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MEMOIR AND REMAINS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 EEV. ROBERT MURRAY McCHEYNE 
 
 3IIM5TER OF ST. PETER's CHURCH, DUNDEE. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REY.-A|D.REB: A. BONAR, 
 
 MINISTER OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, COLLAGE. 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 INTRODUCTORY LETTER 
 
 SY THE 
 
 Rev. SAMUEL MILLER, D.D. 
 
 OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 
 
 Paul T. Jones, Publishing Agent. 
 
 1844. 
 

 6^7-2^6^ 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 William. S. Martica. 
 
>-^ 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 From a desire to render the volume portable, and 
 thus obtain for it a wider circulation, the sermons 
 and some of the minor writings of Mr. McCheyne 
 have been omitted in this reprint. Several of these, 
 however, have been published by the Board of Pub- 
 lication in a separate form, making four or five very 
 small volumes, which are suitable for Sabbath-school 
 Libraries, as well as for the general reader. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 Introductory Letter, vii 
 
 Chap. I. His Youth and Preparation for the Ministry, ... 1 
 
 II. His Labours in the Vineyard before Ordination,. 36 
 
 III. First Years of Labour in Dundee, 62 
 
 IV. His Mission to Palestine and the Jews, 99 
 
 V. Days of Revival, 138 
 
 VI. The Latter Days of his Ministry, 171 
 
 Concluding Memorials, 200 
 
 Private Correspondence 207 
 
 Pastoral Letters, 298 
 
 To Members of a Prayer-Meeting 353 
 
 Evidence on Revivals, , 357 
 
 Songs of Zion. 
 
 The Barren Fig Tree, 368 
 
 They sing the Song of Moses, 369 
 
 Jehovah Tsidnenu, 371 
 
 On Mungo Park's finding a tufl of moss, 372 
 
 I am Debtor, 374 
 
 Children called to Christ, 376 
 
 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, • • 377 
 
vi CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 Songs of Zion. 
 
 The Fountain of Siloam, 378 
 
 The Sea of Galilee, 379 
 
 To Yonder Side 380 
 
 On the Mediterranean Sea, at Acre, 382 
 
 The Child coming to Jesus, 383 
 
 Oil in the Lamp, 384 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE 
 BOARD OF PUBLICATION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 IN THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 Rev. and Dear Brother, — I have received, within 
 a few days, from a valued correspondent in Scotland, 
 a biographical work which I have read with peculiar 
 pleasure, and which I could earnestly wish might 
 be circulated throughout the bounds of our beloved 
 Church. The work to which I refer is entitled, " Me- 
 moir and Remains of the Reverend Robert Murray 
 McCheyne, Minister of St. Peter's Church, Dundee, 
 by the Rev. Andrew A. Bonar, Minister of the Free 
 Church of Scotland, Collace." 
 
 Although Mr. McCheyne was a young man, not 
 extensively known to fame, who died last year at the 
 early age of twenty-nine, yet he was so highly es- 
 teemed and confided in by his brethren of the Church 
 of Scotland, that in 1838, when in the twenty-fourth 
 year of his age, he was chosen, in connexion with 
 three older ministers, on a delegation to the Jews of 
 Europe and Asia ; to inquire into their condition, and 
 to report on the prospects and best means of calling 
 their attention to the character and claims of the reli- 
 gion of Christ. This commission he fulfilled with an 
 ability and faithfulness which, together with the pre- 
 ceding and subsequent character of his ministry, caused 
 
viii INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 his death, which took place in 1843, to be regarded 
 as a great calamity to the cause of truth and of vital 
 piety in North Britain. 
 
 The impression left by Mr. McCheyne on the minds 
 of those who were most intimately acquainted with 
 his person and ministry, is strongly portrayed in the 
 following representation, found in a review of this 
 memoir, contained in a periodical published in Edin- 
 burgh, and evidently written by one who had the best 
 opportunity of knowing the whole character of the 
 deceased, in all its aspects. The extract will speak 
 for itself. Such language could not have been prompt- 
 ed by an ordinary man. 
 
 " Robert Murray McCheyne ! To dwell on his 
 saintly character would be a pleasant theme. At this 
 realizing rnoment to produce his effigy seems a pos- 
 sible task. That countenance so benevolently earnest, 
 with its gleams of brightness flitting over its settled 
 pensiveness; — that eye so mild and penetrating, as of 
 one who had seen through the world's vanity before 
 he had discerned the Saviour's beauty; — that fore- 
 head familiar with high and holy thoughts; — that 
 disentangled pilgrim-look which showed plainly that 
 he ^sought a city;' — the serene self-possession of one 
 who walked by faith ; — and the sequestered musing 
 gait such as we might suppose the meditative Isaac 
 had; — that aspect of compassion, in such unison with 
 the remonstrating and entreating tones of his melo- 
 dious and tender voice ; — that entire appearance as of 
 one who had been with Jesus, and who would never 
 be right at home till, where Jesus is, there he should 
 also be : — these things we think we could delineate ; 
 for associated as they are with some of the most 
 solemn and delightful liours of personal history, they 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. JX 
 
 come back on memory with a vividness which anni- 
 hilates the interval since last we saw them, and with 
 that air of immortality about them, which says, joy- 
 fully, * He is not dead, but sleepeth.' To know him 
 was the best interpretation of many texts. At least, 
 we have a clearer conception of what is meant by a 
 'hidden life,' and a Miving sacrifice,' and can better 
 understand the sort of Ufe which Enoch led, since we 
 made the acquaintance oi Robert McCheyne. 
 
 " Happy would it have been for Scotland had all 
 its churches and manses witnessed the scenes with 
 which St. Peter's, Dundee, and the abode of its min- 
 ister had become familiar. So heart-deep and hum- 
 bling were the confessions of sin in Mr. McCheyne's 
 family prayers and in public worship; so far did he 
 descend into the inward abysses of atheism, and car- 
 nality, and hypocrisy; and so faithfully and mourn- 
 fully did he lay before the Lord these hidden plagues, 
 the perversities of motive, and the intricacies of self- 
 righteousness, that nothing was so fitted to convince 
 of sin and destroy confidence in the flesh. Then in 
 his prayers he held such reverential and endearing 
 communion with a reconciled God; — he pressed so 
 near the throne; there was something so filial in his 
 * Abba, Father;' it was so obvious even to lookers-on, 
 that he was putting his petitions and praises into the 
 golden censer; — so express, and urgent, and hopeful 
 were his supplications, that it was awakening to hear 
 him pray. It was enough to make some Christians 
 feel, ' Hitherto we have asked nothing in Jesus' 
 name ;' and enough to prick the heart of prayerless 
 worldlings. His preaching was a continuation of his 
 prayers. In both he spoke from within the veil, his 
 hand on the mercy seat, and his eye fixed on the things 
 
X INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 invisible. His usual address was calm and evenly, 
 but arresting and enchanting. His hold of the truth 
 gave him a hold of his hearers. He was at home in 
 the pulpit. He did not need to bestow that care on 
 composition which is incumbent on less gifted men. 
 His poetic fancy and instinctive taste, with a steady 
 flow of thoughts and words, saved him much trouble 
 in this respect. But that was all. He did not avail 
 himself of his fine genius and happy power of lan- 
 guage, to procure a name for eloquence. He was 
 content that the subordinate end was answered, and 
 that even in extempore addresses he could proceed 
 without embarrassment or hesitation. His eye was 
 single ; his aim was souls — souls for Jesus' sake. He 
 had some other use for his bow than to entertain his 
 hearers with the twang of the sonorous string. The 
 salvation of souls was his object; and in his study 
 preparing for the pulpit, and in the pulpit looking 
 down upon his people, all his anxiety was to find truth 
 that would penetrate the conscience — the unawakened 
 consciences of all kinds of people, and truth which 
 would lead anxious souls to the desired landing-place 
 of peace with God. This unity of purpose gave a 
 continuous earnestness and solemnity to his ministry. 
 His feeblest appeal was more personal and importu- 
 nate than the most pointed exhortations of vaguer 
 ministers in their most faithful moods. His solicitude 
 for the salvation of his hearers made him affectionate 
 even beyond his natural tenderness. Sometimes a 
 smile of momentary bitterness would be provoked 
 when depicting the absurdity of sin and the infatua- 
 tion of sinners; but it instantly subsided into the habit- 
 ual compassion with which he yearned over souls. 
 So well understood was his errand; — so accustomed 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. xi 
 
 were they to the entreating voice and expostulating 
 attitude of this ambassador of Christ; — so thoroughly- 
 aware that he was seeking their immediate conver- 
 sion were the most careless in his congregation, that 
 any disquisition which had not a present and practi- 
 cal bearing, a sermon without Christ or without earn- 
 estness, would have astonished the most indifterent 
 among them, and made them fear that their minister 
 was no longer himself. 
 
 " Commending the truth to every man's conscience 
 in the sight of God, a demonstration of the Spirit sel- 
 dom failed to accompany his preaching. His minis- 
 try at Dundee was a constant awakening, and he sel- 
 dom addressed an auditory elsewhere without its 
 proving to some a time much to be remembered. 
 Nay, a demonstration of the Spirit accompanied his 
 presence. His visits to pious families were hallowing, 
 and his casual contact with secular men was solemni- 
 zing; and even those who only * wondered and per- 
 ished' knew that a prophet had been among them 
 indeed. 
 
 "But his character has been so often delineated al- 
 ready, and the materials for knowing him better which 
 these volumes supply, are so abundant, that we shall 
 not pursue this personal portraiture any further. Nor 
 shall we fill our pages with extracts from a book which 
 we hope every reader of this Review has, by this time, 
 either read or begun to read. His school-companion, 
 his fellow-pilgrim to Palestine, his near neighbour in 
 the ministry, and most frequent coadjutor in each la- 
 bour of love, is his biographer. No one who knew 
 how undivided in his life Mr. McCheyne and Mr. ^. 
 Bonar were, thought that any other should attempt 
 
xii INTRODUCTORY LETTER, 
 
 the record of that Ufa; no one wlio reads it could wisli 
 that any other had. By natural talent fitted to notice 
 the finer features of character, and to fathom some of 
 its abstruser depths, and by a better taste accustomed 
 to observe the rise and progress of religion in the 
 souls of men, and peculiarly happy in describing things 
 as he sees them, Mr. Bonar is a fit biographer in any 
 case where eminent piety reigned in a delicate and 
 accomplished mind. In the present case, so intimate 
 and like-minded were they, that the narrative derives 
 much of its beauty from the congeniality between the 
 subject and its narrator. The only fault is one, into 
 which a stranger could not have fallen. Some of the 
 more obvious features of Mr. McChey lie's character 
 are hardly noticed. To Mr. Bonar they w^ere so 
 habitual that they had ceased to be observable. 
 They would have impressed a stranger. The ordinary 
 aspect of the man, his in-door life and daily walk, his 
 manner of conversation in the world and among his 
 Christian friends, such scenes as have seldom trans- 
 pired, except in the prayer-meetings and at the com- 
 munions of St. Peter's, more of his sayings and deep 
 remarks on Scripture, and, if possible, more of the 
 special instances of his success in winning souls, we 
 should have gladly obtained, and some of these a dis- 
 tant on-looker would have been apt to give. The 
 work does not absolutely lack these things, and it pos- 
 sesses the surpassing value of revealing the interior 
 growth of that eminent piety which produced his 
 eminent usefulness. And altogether, the memoir is a 
 faithful and affecting record of as beauteous a charac- 
 ter, and as eflective a ministry as He who holds the 
 seven stars has exhibited to the Church in these last 
 days. 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. xiii 
 
 " To give this article a practical tendency, we may 
 be allowed to mention what we believe to have been 
 the secret of Mr. McCheyne' s uncommon usefulness. 
 The subject is seasonable, at this time when so many 
 ministers, and elders, and private Christians are in- 
 quiring by what means they may extend their personal 
 efficiency, and become, in the hands of the Spirit, the 
 agents in adding to the Church of such as shall be 
 saved. From what we know of Mr. McCheyne, and 
 have read in these Memoirs, we are persuaded that 
 next to his habitual dependence on the Spirit of God, 
 the occasion of his uncommon success was the con- 
 sistency and conspicuousness of his Christian char- 
 acter. He lived in the eye of his people. Though 
 his house had been a glass-fronted cabinet, they could 
 scarcely have been more minutely cognizant of his 
 movements and whole manner of life. They knew 
 that his week days were but a sequel to his Sabbaths, 
 and what they saw him in the pulpit, they found him 
 in his study and among his friends, by the way-side, 
 and in their own houses. He was everywhere ' the 
 man of God.' His preaching was impressive, for his 
 life applied it. His every day demeanour exemplified 
 and adorned his doctrine.''* 
 
 Such is the attestation of the contemporaries and 
 intimate friends of this extraordinary man, who had 
 marked his spirit, and listened to his instructions, in 
 public and in private for years together, in all the vari- 
 ous circumstances which " try men's souls." Can any 
 one who appreciates the value of Christian character, 
 doubt that such an example ought to be portrayed for 
 the benefit of the Church and of the world ; and that 
 
 * The Presbyterian Review and Rel. Journal, No. LXV. July, 
 1844. Edinburgh. 
 
xiv INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 such a spirit ought to be studied as deeply, and recom- 
 mended as widely as possible? 
 
 One of the most promising and gratifying features in 
 the present aspect of the Free Church of Scotland, and 
 one of the most precious pledgesof the blessing of God 
 on her noble enterprise, is the evident revival of a spirit 
 of vital piety among her members, and especially 
 among her ministers and elders. This revival has 
 gone hand in hand with her faithful struggle for main- 
 taining the truth and order of Christ's house. Nor is 
 the connexion between these two objects of attention 
 either remote or unimportant. For as, on the one 
 hand, the prevalence of vital piety cannot be expected 
 to be found in any church in which the pure doctrines 
 of the gospel are not held fast and faithfully preached ; 
 so, on the other, where a sound faith at present exists, 
 it will assuredly, not long continue to be maintained, 
 after vital piety declines. As men are " sanctified by 
 the truth,''^ so none but sanctified men will be dis- 
 posed for any length of time together, to " contend 
 for the truth'^ and to preach it with simplicity and 
 clearness. In the early history of the Reformed 
 churches of France, we find orthodoxy and vital 
 piety maintaining a joint reign to an extent as benign 
 and happy as in any other portion of Protestant Chris- 
 tendom. One of the first symptoms of a departure 
 from their original purity, was a disposition manifest- 
 ed by some of their ministers of questionable piety, to 
 explain some of the articles of the Confession of Faith 
 which they had solemnly subscribed, in a latitudina- 
 rian manner. Deviation followed deviation; Synodi- 
 cal bodies began to tolerate serious error; an evangeli- 
 cal spi7nt declined with evangelical truth; until, at 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. XV 
 
 length, they ceased to occupy the place and to main- 
 tain the character of" witnesses" for "the faith once 
 delivered to the saints." The history of the Church 
 oi Scotland is in melancholy accordance with the same 
 great principle. With the growth of " Moderatism," 
 orthodoxy and piety sunk together; until " the things 
 which remained were ready to die." At this junc- 
 ture God was pleased to interpose for her help. Faith- 
 ful men were raised up; men " full of faith and of the 
 Holy Ghost;" men who remembered the orthodoxy 
 and piety of their Fathers; men trained in the school of 
 experience and of sound doctrine, and willing to give 
 up all for Christ. The sublime spectacle which these 
 devoted men have since exhibited, in abandoning all 
 the endowments and comforts of the established 
 church, for the sake of fidelity to their Master in hea- 
 ven has been, since the era of its occurrence, the ad- 
 miration and joy of a large part of the Protestant 
 world. Of this blessed revival and triumph of Chris- 
 tian principle, McCheyne and his memoir may be 
 considered at once as a fruit and a specimen. 
 
 I write these lines, and recommend this work, my 
 dear brother, under the deep impression that we can- 
 not pray for a greater blessing to our beloved Church 
 than that the mantle of this holy man may rest upon 
 all our Pastors and Elders, exciting them to the zeal, 
 the unceasing diligence, and the entire consecration to 
 their Master in heaven which were so conspicuous 
 in his short course. We need — greatly need large 
 additions to the number of our ministers ; but we still 
 more urgently need a higher standard of piety among 
 those that we have. Often, in reading this delightful 
 memoir, have I said to myself, " 0, if all the Pastors 
 
Xvi INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 of our Church, or a large portion of them, were such 
 as McCheyne, as dead to the world as he was; as full 
 of sanctified unceasing ardour to do good to the souls 
 of men ; as watchful to instruct and edify the young 
 and the old; as much like Christ in all their habits and 
 efforts — what a different aspect would our portion of 
 the religious community wear? How much more 
 elevated would be the eloquence of our pulpits! An 
 eloquence not growing out of the principles and rules 
 of art, but governed and animated by that heart-felt 
 sense of the infinite importance and preciousness of 
 evangelical truth which never fails to reach the heart. 
 How much more frequent would be revivals of reli- 
 gion ! or rather, how much would most of our con- 
 gregations resemble that of the subject of this memoir, 
 in which those who knew it best have told us there 
 was a gentle, noiseless, but almost constant awaken- 
 ing ! If such men presided over all our churches, 
 what a hallowed impulse would be given to the mis- 
 sionary cause, and to all the scriptural plans for dif- 
 fusing the knowledge of salvation throughout the 
 world! How easy would it be to do without joi^^//c 
 agents for stirring up the people to sustain the cause 
 of Christian benevolence! The Pastor and the Elder- 
 ship of every church would be a source of hallowed 
 influence in regard to that great cause, adapted under 
 God, to keep every church awake and alive to its 
 claims. McCheyne, while he lived needed no body to 
 come in and remind the people of his charge, that the 
 church was bound to send the gospel to every crea- 
 ture; and that every individual member of the church 
 was under obligation to take an active part in this 
 work. The habitual preaching, the public and private 
 
INTRODUCTORY LETTER. xvii 
 
 prayers, and the daily example of this heavenly 
 minded pastor were at once a constant memento of 
 their duty, and a powerful stimulus to its performance. 
 
 While I lament that there is not more of this spirit 
 reigning among the ministers and elders, and mem- 
 bers of our beloved church, I consider the appearance 
 and the popularity of such works as this memoir, as 
 a pledge that the gracious King of Zion will revive us. 
 Some of us who are old and grey-headed, and have 
 been permitted to preach the gospel for more than 
 half a century, so far as the eye of man can discern, 
 have been instrumental in winning much fewer souls, 
 and have done far, far less for the honour of our 
 blessed Master, than this youthful servant of Christ 
 in a ministry of less than a fifth part of the same 
 length. Surely the contemplation of such a portrait 
 as that presented in this memoir, ought to fill us with 
 humiliation and shame. 
 
 My hope is, that the great Head of the Church will 
 speedily raise up a race of ministers more holy, more 
 zealous, more wise, more diligent, and more entirely 
 devoted to their work than their fathers have ever 
 been. 
 
 Blessed day ! when the watchmen on the walls of 
 Zion " shall never hold their peace day nor night ; 
 when they that make mention of the Lord shall not 
 keep silence, nor give Him any rest, until he establish 
 and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth ; until the 
 righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the 
 salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." Come, 
 Lord Jesus, come quickly thus to bless thy church 
 and people ; even so, come. Lord Jesus ! 
 
 With fervent prayers that we may all lay to heart our 
 
Xviii INTRODUCTORY LETTER. 
 
 duty and our responsibility more deeply than we 
 have ever yet done, 
 
 I am, Rev. and Dear Brother, 
 Your fellow servant 
 
 In the Gospel of Christ, 
 
 SAMUEL MILLER. 
 
 Princeton, September 19, 1844. 
 
MEMOIR, &c. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 HIS YOUTH, AND PREPARATION FOR THE MINISTRY. 
 
 Many shall rejoice at his birth ; for he shall be great in the sight of 
 
 the Lord. — Luke i. 14. 
 
 In the midst of the restless activity of such a day as 
 ours, it will be felt by ministers of Christ to be useful, 
 in no common degree, to trace the steps of one who 
 but lately left us, and who, during the last years of 
 his short life, walked calmly in almost unbroken fel- 
 lowship with the Father and the Son. 
 
 The date of his birth was May 21, 1813. About 
 that time, (it is now evident to us who can look back 
 on the past,) the Great Head had a purpose of blessing 
 for the Church of Scotland. Eminent men of God 
 appeared to plead the cause of Christ. The cross was 
 lifted up boldly in the midst of Church Courts which 
 had long been ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. More 
 spirituality and deeper seriousness began a few years 
 onward to prevail among the youth of our divinity 
 halls. In the midst of such events, whereby the Lord 
 was secretly preparing a rich blessing for souls in all 
 our borders, the subject of this memoir was born. 
 "Many were to rejoice at his birth;" for he was one 
 of the blessings which were beginning to be dropped 
 down upon Scotland, though none then knew that one 
 was born whom hundreds would look up to as their 
 spiritual father. 
 
 The place of his birth was Edinburgh, where his 
 
 1 
 
2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 parents resided. He was the youngest child of the 
 family, and was called Robert Murray, after the 
 name of some of his kindred. 
 
 From his infancy his sweet and affectionate temper 
 was remarked by all who knew him. His mind was 
 quick in its attainments; he was easily taught the 
 common lessons of youth, and some of his peculiar 
 endowments began early to appear. At the age of 
 four, while recovering from some illness, he selected 
 as his recreation the study of the Greek alphabet, and 
 was able to name all the letters, and write them in 
 a rude way upon a slate. A year after, he made 
 rapid progress in the English class, and at an early 
 period became somewhat eminent among his school- 
 fellows for his melodious voice and powers of recita- 
 tion. There were at that time catechetical exercises 
 held in the Tron Church, in the interval between ser- 
 mons; and some friends remember the interest often 
 excited in the hearers by his correct and sweet recita- 
 tion of the Psalms and passages of Scripture. But as 
 yet he knew not the Lord; he lived to himself, "hav- 
 ing no hope, and without God in the world." (Eph. 
 ii. 12.) 
 
 In October 1821, he entered the High School, 
 where he continued his literary studies during the 
 usual period of six years. He maintained a high 
 place in his classes ; and, in the Rector's class, distin- 
 guished himself by eminence in geography and reci- 
 tation. It was during the last year of his attendance 
 at the High School that he first ventured on poetical 
 composition, the subject being, " Greece, but living 
 Greece no more." The lines are characterized chiefly 
 by enthusiasm for libert}^ and Grecian heroism, for in 
 these days his soul had never soared to a higher re- 
 gion. His companions speak of him as one who had 
 even then peculiarities that drew attention — of a light, 
 tall form — full of elasticity and vigour — ambitious, 
 yet noble in his dispositions, disdaining every thing 
 iike meanness or deceit. Some would have been apt 
 to regard him as exhibiting many traits of a Christian 
 character ; but his susceptible mind had not, at that 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 3 
 
 time, a relish for any higher joy than the refined 
 gaieties of society, and for such pleasures as the song 
 and the dance could yield. He himself regarded these 
 as days of ungodUness — days wherein he cherished a 
 pure morality, but lived in heart a Pharisee. I have 
 heard him say that there was a correctness and pro- 
 priety in his demeanour at tinres of devotion, and in 
 pubhc worship, which some, who knew not his heart, 
 were ready to put to the account of real feeling. And 
 this experience of his own heart made him look with 
 jealousy on the mere outward signs of devotion, in 
 dealing with souls. He had learned in his own case 
 how much a soul, unawakened to a sense of guilt, 
 may have satisfaction in performing, from the proud 
 consciousness of integrity towards man, and a senti- 
 mental devotedness of mnnd that chastens the feelings 
 without changing the heart. 
 
 He had great delight in rural scenery. Most of his 
 summer vacations used to be spent in Dumfriesshire, 
 and his friends in the parish of Ruth well and its 
 vicinity retain a vivid remembrance of his youthful 
 days. His poetic temperament led him to visit what- 
 ever scenes were fitted to stir the soul. At all periods 
 of his life, also, he had a love of enterprise. During 
 the summer months he occasionally made excursions 
 with his brother, or some intimate friend, to visit the 
 lakes and hills of our Highlands, cherishing thereby, 
 unawares, a fondness for travel, that was most useful 
 to him in after days. In one of these excursions, a 
 somewhat romantic occurrence befel tlie travellers, 
 such as we might rather have expected to meet with 
 in the records of his Eastern journey. He and his 
 friend had set out on foot to explore, at their leisure, 
 Dunkeld and the highlands in its vicinity. They 
 spent a day at Dunkeld, and about sunset set out again 
 with the view of crossing the hills to Strathardle. A 
 dense mist spread over the hills soon after they bes^an 
 to chmb. They pressed on, but lost the track that 
 might have guided them safely to the glen. They 
 knew not how to direct their steps to any dwelling. 
 Night came on^ and they had no resource but to couch 
 
4 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 among the heath, with no other covering than the 
 clothes they wore. They felt hungry and cold; and, 
 awaking at midnight, the awful stillness of the lonely 
 mountains spread a strange fear over them. But, 
 drawing close together, they again lay down to rest, 
 and slept soundly till the cry of some wild birds and 
 the morning dawn aroused them. 
 
 Entering the Edinburgh University in November, 
 1827, he gained some prize in all the various classes 
 he attended. In private he studied the modern lan- 
 guages ; and gymnastic exercises at that time gave 
 him unbounded delight. He used his pencil with 
 much success, and then it was that his hand was pre- 
 pared for sketching the scenes of the Holy Land. He 
 had a very considerable knowledge of music, and him- 
 self sang correctly and beautifully. This, too, was a 
 gift which was used to the glory of the Lord in after 
 days — wonderfully enlivening his secret devotions, 
 and enabling him to lead the song of praise in the con- 
 gregation wherever occasion required. Poetry also 
 was a never-failing recreation; and his taste in this 
 department drew the attention of Professor Wilson, 
 who adjudged him the prize in the Moral Philosophy 
 class for a poem, " On the Covenanters." 
 
 In the autumn of 1831, he commenced his studies 
 in the Divinity Hall, under Dr. Chalmers; and the 
 study of Church History under Dr. Welsh. It may 
 be naturally asked, What led him to wish to preach 
 salvation to his fellow-sinners? Could he say, like 
 Robert Bruce, " / ivas first called to my grace, be- 
 fore I obeyed my calling to the ministry)^^ Few 
 questions are more interesting than this ; and our 
 answer to it will open up some of the wonderful ways 
 of Him " whose path is in the great waters, and whose 
 footsteps are not known;" (Psalm Ixxvi. 19:) for the 
 same event that awakened his soul to a true sense of 
 sin and misery, led him to the ministry. 
 
 Tliere can be no doubt that the death of his eldest 
 brother, David, was the event which awoke him from 
 the sleep of nature, and brought in the first beam of 
 divine light into his soul. By that providence the 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 5 
 
 Lord was calling one soul to enjoy the treasures of 
 grace, while he took the other into the possession of 
 glory. 
 
 In this brother, who was his senior by eight or nine 
 years, the light of divine grace shone before men with 
 rare and solemn loveliness. His classical attainments 
 were very high; and, after the usual preliminary 
 studies, he had been admitted Writer to the Signet. 
 One distinguishing quality of his character was his 
 sensitive truthfulness. In a moment would the shadow 
 flit across his brow, if any incident were related where- 
 in there was the slightest exaggeration ; or even when 
 nothing but truth was spoken, if only the deliverer 
 seemed to take up a false or exaggerated view. He 
 must not merely speak the whole truth himself, but 
 he must have the hearer also to apprehend the whole 
 truth. He spent much of his leisure hours in attend- 
 ing to the younger members of the family: tender and 
 affectionate, his grieved look, (it is said,) when they 
 vexed him by resisting his counsels, had something in 
 it so persuasive that it never failed in the end to pre- 
 vail on those with whom his words had not succeeded. 
 His youngest brother, at a time when he lived accord- 
 ing to the course of this world, was the subject of 
 many of his fervent prayers. But a deep melancholy, 
 in a great degree the effect of bodily ailments, settled 
 down on David's soul. Many weary months did he 
 spend in awful gloom, till the trouble of his soul 
 wasted away his body; but the light broke in before 
 his death; joy, from the face of a fully reconciled 
 Father above, lighted up his face ; and the peace of 
 his last days was the sweet consolation left to his 
 afflicted friends, when, July Sth, 1S31, he fell asleep 
 in Jesus. 
 
 The death of this brother, with all its circumstances, 
 was used by the Holy Spirit to produce a deep im- 
 pression on Robert's soul. In many respects — even 
 in the gifts of poetic mind — there had been a conge- 
 niality between him and David. The vivacity of 
 Robert's ever active and lively mind, was the chief 
 point of difference. This vivacity admirably fitted 
 
 1* 
 
6 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 him for public life; it needed only to be chastened 
 and solemnized, and the event that had now occurred 
 wrought this effect. A few months before, the happy 
 family circle had been broken up by the departure of 
 the second brother for India, in the Bengal Medical 
 Service; but when, in the course of the summer, 
 David was removed from them for ever, there were 
 impressions left such as could never be effaced, at 
 least from the mind of Robert. Naturally of an in- 
 tensely affectionate disposition, this stroke moved his 
 whole soul. His quiet hours seem to have been often 
 spent in thoughts of him who was now gone to glory. 
 There are some lines remaining in which his poetic 
 mind has most touchingly, and with uncommon vig- 
 our, painted him whom he had lost — lines all the 
 more interesting, because the delineation of character 
 and form which they contain, cannot fail to call up to 
 those who knew him the image of the author himself. 
 Sometime after his brother's death, he had tried to 
 preserve the features of his well-remembered form, 
 by attempting a portrait from memory; but, throwing 
 aside the pencil in despair, he took up the pen and 
 poured out the fulness of his heart, 
 
 ON PAIJS'TING THE MINIATURE LIKENESS OF ONE DEPARTED. 
 
 Alas ! not perfect yet — another touch, 
 
 And still another, and another still, 
 
 Till those dull lips breathe life, and yonder eye 
 
 Lose its lack-lustre hue, and be lit up 
 
 With the warm glance of living feeling. No — 
 
 It never can be ! Ah, poor, powerless art ! 
 
 Most vaunting yet most impotent, thou seek'st 
 
 To trace the thousand, thousand shades and lights 
 
 That glowed conspicuous on the blessed face 
 
 Of him thou fain would'st imitate — to bind 
 
 Down to the fragile canvass the wild play 
 
 Of thought and mild affection, which were wont 
 
 To dwell in the serious eye, and play around 
 
 The placid mouth. Thou seek'st to give again 
 
 That which the burning soul, inhabiting 
 
 Its clay-built tenement, alone can give — 
 
 To leave on cold, dead matter the impress 
 
 Of living mind — to bid a line, a shade, 
 
 Speak forth, not words, but the soft intercourse 
 
 Which the immortal spirit, while on earth 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 
 
 It tabernacles, breathes from every pore — 
 Thoughts not converted into words, and hopes, 
 And fears, and hidden joys, and griefs, unborn 
 Into the world of sound, but beaming forth 
 In that expression which no words, or work 
 Of cunning artist, can express. In vain, 
 Alas ! in vain ! 
 
 Come hither, Painter ; come 
 Take up once more thine instruments — thy brush 
 And palette — if thy haughty art be, as thou say'st. 
 Omnipotent, and if thy hand can dare 
 To wield creative power. Renew thy toil. 
 And let my memory, vivified by love, 
 Which Death's cold separation has but warmed, 
 And rendered sacred, dictate to thy skill, 
 And guide thy pencil. From the jetty hair 
 Take off that gaudy lustre that but mocks 
 The true original ; and let the dry, 
 Soft, gently-turning locks, appear instead. 
 What though to fasliion's garish eye they seem 
 Untutored and ungainly — gtill to me, 
 Than folly's foppish head-gear, lovelier far 
 Are they, because bespeaking mental toil, 
 Labour assiduous, through the golden days 
 (Golden if so improved) of guileless youth, 
 Unwearied mining in tlie precious stores 
 Of classic lore — and better, nobler still, 
 In God's own holy writ. And scatter here 
 And there a thread of grey, to mark the grief 
 That prematurely checked the bounding flow 
 Of the warm current in liis veins, and shed 
 An early twilight o'er so bright a dawn. 
 No wrinkle sits upon that brow ! — and thus 
 It ever was. The angry strife and cares 
 Of avaricious miser did not leave 
 Tlieir base memorial on so fair a page. 
 The eye-brows next draw closer down, and throw 
 A softening shade o'er the mild orbs below. 
 Let the full eye-lid, drooping, half conceal 
 The back-retiring eye ; and point to eajth 
 The long brown lashes that bespeak a soul 
 Like his who said, " I am not worthy, Lord !" 
 From underneath these lowly turning lids, 
 Let not shine forth the gaily sparkling light 
 Which dazzles oft and oft deceives — nor yet 
 The dull unmeaning lustre that can gaze 
 Alike on all the world. But paint an eye 
 In whose half-hidden, steady light I read 
 A truth-inquiring mind; a fancy, too, 
 That could array in sweet poetic garb 
 The truth he found ; while on his artless harp 
 He touched the gentlest feelings, which the blaze 
 
8 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Of winter's hearth warms in the homely heart. 
 And oh I recall the look of faith sincere, 
 With which that eye would scrutinize the page 
 Tliat tells us of offended God appeased 
 By awful sacrifice upon the cross 
 Of Calvary — that bids us leave a world 
 Immersed in darkness and in death, and seek 
 A better country. Ah ! how oft that eye 
 Would turn on me, with pity's tenderest look, 
 And, only half-upbraiding-, bid me flee 
 From the vain idols of my boyish heart ! 
 
 It was about the same time, while still feeling the 
 sadness of this bereavement, that he wrote the follow- 
 ing fragment, entitled 
 
 THE RIGHTEOUS PERISHETH, AXD NO MAN LAVETH IT TO HEART. 
 
 Isaiah Ivii. 1. 
 
 A grave I know 
 Where earthly show 
 Is not — a mound 
 Whose gentle round 
 Sustains the load 
 Of a fresh sod. 
 Its shape is rude, 
 And v/eeds intrude 
 Their yellow flowers — 
 In gayer bowers 
 Unknown. The grass 
 A tufted mass. 
 Is rank and strong — 
 Unsmoothed and long. 
 No rosebud there 
 Embalms the air ; 
 No lily chaste 
 Adorns the waste, 
 Nor daisy's head 
 Bedecks the bed. 
 No myrtles wave 
 Above that grave; 
 Nor heather bell 
 Is there to tell 
 Of gentle friend 
 Who sought to lend 
 A sweeter sleep 
 To him who deep 
 Beneatli the ground 
 Repose has found. 
 No stone of wo 
 Is there to show 
 The name, or tell 
 How passing well 
 
 He loved his God, 
 
 And how he trod 
 
 The humble road 
 
 That leads through sorrow 
 
 To a bright morrow. 
 
 Unknown in life. 
 
 And far from strife. 
 
 He lived ; — and though 
 
 The magic flow 
 
 Of genius played 
 
 Around his head, 
 
 And he could weave 
 
 " The song at eve," 
 
 And toucli the heart, 
 
 W' itli gentlest art ; 
 
 Or cares beguile. 
 
 And draw the smile 
 
 Of peace from those 
 
 Who wept their woes ;— 
 
 Yet when the love 
 
 Of Christ above 
 
 To guilty men 
 
 Was shown him — then 
 
 He left llie joys 
 
 Of worldly noise. 
 
 And humbly laid 
 
 His drooping head 
 
 Upon the cross ; 
 
 And thought the loss 
 
 Of all tliat earth 
 
 Contained — of mirth. 
 
 Of loves, and fame. 
 
 And pleasure's name — 
 
 No sacrifice 
 
REV. R. M McCHEYNE. 
 
 To win the prize, 
 Which Christ secured, 
 When he endured 
 For us the load — 
 The wrath of God ! 
 With many a tear, 
 And many a fear, 
 With many a sigh 
 And heart-wrung cry 
 Of timid faith, 
 He sought the Breath, 
 But which can give 
 The power to Hve — 
 Whose word alone 
 Can melt the stone, 
 Bid tumult cease. 
 And all be peace ! 
 He sought not now 
 To wreath his brow 
 With laurel bough. 
 He sought no more 
 To gather store 
 Of earthly lore. 
 Nor vainly strove 
 To share the love 
 Of heaven above. 
 With aught below 
 That earth can show. 
 The smile forsook 
 His cheek — his look 
 Was cold and sad ; 
 And even the glad 
 Return of morn. 
 When the ripe corn 
 Waves o'er the plains, 
 And simple swains 
 With joy prepare 
 The toil to share 
 Of harvest, brought 
 No lively thought 
 To him. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ rf: 
 
 And spring adorns 
 The sunny morns 
 With opening flowers ; 
 And beauty showers 
 O'er lawn and mead ; 
 Its virgin head 
 The snow-drop steeps 
 In dew, and peeps 
 The crocus forth. 
 Nor dreads the north — 
 
 But even the spring 
 No smile can brinar 
 
 o 
 
 To hjm, whose eye 
 Souglit in the sky 
 For brighter scenes. 
 Where intervenes 
 No darkening cloud 
 Of sin to shroud 
 The gazer's view. 
 Thus sadly flew 
 The merry spring; 
 And gaily sing 
 The birds their loves 
 In summer groves. 
 But not for him 
 Their notes they trim. 
 His ear is cold — 
 His tale is told. 
 Above his grave 
 
 The grass may wave — 
 
 * * # * 
 
 The crowd pass by 
 Without a sigh 
 Above the spot. 
 They knew him not — 
 They could not know; 
 And even though. 
 Why should they shed 
 Above the dead 
 Who slumbers here 
 A single tear? 
 I cannot weep, 
 Though in my sleep 
 I sometimes clasp. 
 With love's fond grasp. 
 His gentle hand, 
 And see him stand 
 Beside my bed. 
 And lean his head 
 Upon my breast, 
 And bid me rest 
 Nor night nor day 
 Till I can say 
 That I have found 
 The holy ground 
 In which there lies 
 The Pearl of Price- 
 Till all the ties 
 The soul that bind. 
 And all the lies 
 The soul that blind, 
 Be * * * 
 
10 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Nothing could more fully prove the deep impres- 
 sion which the event made than these verses. But it 
 was not a transient regret, nor was it the ''sorrow of 
 the world." He was in his eighteenth year when his 
 brother died: and if this was not the year of his new 
 birth, at least it was the year when the first streaks 
 of dawn appeared in his soul. From that day for- 
 ward, his friends observed a change. His poetry was 
 pervaded with serious thought, and all his pursuits 
 began to be followed out in another spirit. He en- 
 gaged in the labours of a Sabbath school, and began 
 to seek God to his soul, in the diligent reading of the 
 word, and attendance on a faitliful ministry. 
 
 How important this period of his life appeared in 
 his own view, may be gathered from his allusions to 
 it in later days. A year after, he writes in his diary, 
 " On this morning last year came the first overwhelm- 
 ing blow to my worldliness; how blessed to me, thou, 
 O God, only knowest, who hast made it so." Every 
 year he marked this day as one to be remembered, 
 and occasionally its recollections seem to have come 
 in like a flood. In a letter to a friend (July 8th, 1842,) 
 upon a matter entirely local, he concludes by a post- 
 script — "This day eleven years ago, my holy brother 
 David entered into his rest, aged twenty-six." And on 
 that same day, writing a note to one of his flock in 
 Dundee, (who had asked him to furnish a preface to 
 a work printed 1740, ^^ Letters on Spiritual Sub- 
 jects,^') he commends the book, and adds — " Pray for 
 me, that I may be made holier and wiser — less like 
 myself, and more like my heavenly Master; that I 
 may not regard my life, if so be I may finish my 
 course with joy. This day eleven years ago, I lost 
 my loved and loving brother, and began to seek a 
 Brother who cannot die." 
 
 It was to companions who could sympathize in his 
 feelings, that he unbosomed himself. At that period 
 it was not common for inquiring souls to carry their 
 case to their pastor. A conventional reserve upon 
 these subjects prevailed even among lively believers. 
 This he felt to be so great an evil, that, in after days, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. H 
 
 he was careful to encourage anxious souls to converse 
 with him freely. The nature of his experience, how- 
 ever, we have some means of knowing. On one 
 occasion, a few of us who had studied together were 
 reviewing the Lord's dealings with om' souls, and 
 how he had brought us to himself, all very nearly at 
 the same time, though without any special instrumen- 
 talit3^ He stated that there was nothing sudden in 
 his case, and that he was led to Christ through deep 
 and ever-abiding, but not awful or distracting convic- 
 tions. In this we see the Lord's sovereignty. In 
 bringing a soul to the Saviour, the Holy Spirit inva- 
 riably leads it to very deep consciousness of sin; but 
 then he causes this consciousness of sin to be more 
 distressing and intolerable to some than to others. 
 But in one point does the experience of all believing 
 sinners agree in this matter — viz. their soul presented 
 to their view nothing but an abyss of sin, when the 
 grace of God, that bringeth salvation, appeared. 
 
 The Holy Spirit carried on his work in the subject 
 of this memoir, by continuing to deepen in him the 
 conviction of his ungodliness, and the pollution of his 
 whole nature. And all his life long, he viewed his 
 original sin, not as an excuse for his actual sins, but 
 as an aggravation of them all. In this view he was 
 of the mind of David, taught by the unerring Spirit of 
 Truth. (See Psalm li. 4, 5.) 
 
 At first the light dawned slowly; so slowly, that, 
 for a considerable time, he still relished an occasional 
 plunge into scenes of gaiety. Even after entering the 
 Divinity Hall, he could be persuaded to indulge in 
 lighter pursuits, at least during the first two years of 
 his attendance; but it was with growing alarm. When 
 hurried away by such worldly joys, I find him writing 
 thus : — ^' Sept. 14. — May there be few such records 
 as this in my biography." Then, ^^ Dec. 9 — A thorn 
 in my side — much torment." As the unholiness of 
 his pleasures became more apparent, he writes : — - 
 "ii/«rcA ,10th, 1832 — I hope never to play cards 
 again." March 25th — Never visit on a Sunday 
 evening again." ^^pril 10th — Absented myself from 
 
12 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the dance ; iipbraidings ill to bear. But I must try 
 to bear the cross." It seems to be in reference to the 
 receding tide, which thns for a season repeatedly drew 
 him back to the world, that on July 8th, 1836, he 
 records — " This morning five years ago, my dear 
 brother David died, and my heart for the first time 
 knew true bereavement. Trnly it was all well. Let 
 me be dumb, for thou didst it; and it was good for 
 me that I was afflicted. I know not that any pro- 
 vidence was ever more abused by man than that was 
 by me; and yet, Lord, what mountains thou comest 
 over ! none was ever more blessed to me." To us 
 who can look at the results, it appears probable that 
 the Lord permitted him thus to try many broken cis- 
 terns, and to taste the wormwood of many earthly 
 streams, in order that in after days, by the side of the 
 fountain of living waters, he might point to the world 
 he had for ever left, and testify the surpassing pre- 
 ciousness of what he had now found. 
 
 Mr. Alexander Somerville (afterwards minister of 
 Anderston Church, Glasgow), was his familiar friend 
 and companion in the gay scenes of his youth. And 
 he, too, about this time, having been brought to taste 
 the powers of the world to come, they united their 
 efforts for each other's welfare. They met together 
 for the study of the Bible, and used to exercise them- 
 selves in the Septuagint Greek and the Hebrew ori- 
 ginal. But oftener still, they met for prayer and 
 solemn converse; and carrying on all their studies in 
 the same spirit, watched each other's steps in the nar- 
 row way. 
 
 He thought himself much profited, at this period, 
 by investigating the subject of Election, and the Free 
 Grace of God. But it was the reading of" The Sum 
 of Savhig Kuoivledge,^^*' generally appended to our 
 Confession of Faith, that brought him to a clear un- 
 derstanding of the way of acceptance with God. 
 Those who are acquainted with its admirable state- 
 ments of truth, will see how well fitted it was to direct 
 an inquiring soul. I find him some years afterwards 
 
 * This lias been published, in a small volume, by the Presbyterian 
 Board of Publication. — Am. Ed. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 13 
 
 recording: — March 11th, 1S34 — Read in the ^ Sum of 
 Saving Knowledge,' the work which I tliink first of 
 all wrought a saving change in me. How gladly 
 would I renew the reading of it, if that change might 
 be carried on to perfection.'' It will be observed that 
 he never reckoned his soul saved, notwithstanding all 
 his convictions and views of sin, until he really went 
 into the Holiest of All on the warrant of the Re- 
 deemer's work; for assuredly a sinner is still under 
 wrath, until he has actually availed himself of the way 
 to the Father opened up by Jesus. All his knowledge 
 of his sinfulness, and all his sad feeling of his own 
 need and danger, cannot place him one step further 
 off from the lake of fire. It is " he that comes to 
 Christ" that is saved. 
 
 Before this period, he had received a bias towards 
 the ministry from his brother David, who used to 
 speak of the ministry as the most blessed work on 
 earth, and often expressed the greatest delight in the 
 hope that his younger brother might one day become 
 a minister of Christ. And now, with altered views — 
 with an eye that could gaze on heaven and hell, and 
 a heart that felt the love of a reconciled God, he sought 
 to become a herald of salvation. 
 
 He had begun to keep a register of his studies, and 
 the manner in which his time slipped away, some 
 months before his brother's death. For a consider- 
 able time this register contains almost nothing but the 
 bare incidents of the diary, and on Sabbaths the texts 
 of the sermons he had heard. There is one gleam 
 of serious thought — but it is the only one — during 
 that period. On occasion of Dr. Andrew Thompson's 
 funeral, he records the deep and universal grief that 
 pervaded the town, and then subjoins — "Pleasing to 
 see so much public feeling excited on the decease of 
 so worthy a man. How much are the times changed 
 within these eighteen centuries, since the time when 
 Joseph besought the body in secret, and when he and 
 Nicodemus were the only ones found to bear the body 
 to the tomb." 
 
 It is in the end of the year that evidences of a 
 
14 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 change appear. From that period, and ever onward, 
 his dry register of every-day incidents is varied with 
 such passages as the following : 
 
 '^November 12. — Reading H. Martyn's Memoirs. 
 Would I could imitate him, giving up father, mother, 
 country, house, health, life, all, for Christ. And yet, 
 what hinders ? Lord, purify me, and give me strength 
 to dedicate myself, my all, to thee !" 
 
 '•'December 4. — Reading Legh Richmond's Life. 
 Poenitentia profunda, non sine lacrymis. Nunquam 
 me ipsum, tam vilem, tam inutilem, tam pauperem, 
 et prsecipue tam ingratum, adhuc vidi. vSint lacrymcc 
 dedicationis mea3 pignora!' ["Deep penitence, not 
 unmixed with tears. I never before saw myself so 
 vile, so useless, so poor, and, above all, so ungrate- 
 ful. May these tears be the pledges of my self- 
 dedication.^'] There is frequently at this period a 
 sentence in Latin occurring like the above, in the 
 midst of other matter, apparently with the view of 
 giving freer expression to his feelings, regarding him- 
 self. 
 
 *' Dec. 9. — Heard a street-preacher : foreign voice. 
 Seems really in earnest. He quoted the striking pass- 
 age, ^The Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let 
 him that heai^ethsay, Come.^ From this he seems to 
 derive his authority. Let me learn from this man to 
 be in earnest for the truth, and to despise the scoffing 
 of the world." 
 
 ''Dec. IS. — After spending an evening too lightly, 
 he writes — " My heart must break off from all these 
 things. What right have I to steal and abuse my 
 Master's time? 'Redeem it,' he is crying to me." 
 
 "Dec. 25. — My mind not yet calmly fixed on the 
 Rock of Ages." 
 
 "January 12. 1832. — Cor non pacem habet. — 
 Quare? Peccatum apud fores manet." [" My heart 
 has not peace. Why? Sin lieth at my door."] 
 
 "Jan. 25. — A lovely day. Eighty-four cases of 
 cholera at Musselburgh. How it creeps nearer and 
 nearer, like a snake. Who will be the first victim 
 here? Let thine everlasting arms be around us, and 
 we shall be safe." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. 
 
 15 
 
 -1^ 
 
 '^ Jan. 29. Sabbath — Afternoon, heard Mr. Bruce, 
 (then minister of the New North Church, Edinburgh) 
 on iNIalachi i. 1-6. It constitutes the very gravamen 
 of the charge against the unrenewed man, that he has 
 affection for his earthly parent, and reverence for his 
 earthly master; but none for God! Most noble dis- 
 course." 
 
 ^'February 2. — Not a trait worth remembering! 
 And yet these four-and-twenty hours must be ac- 
 counted for." 
 
 Feb. 5. Sabbath. — In the afternoon, having heard 
 the late Mr. Martin, of St. George's,* he writes, on 
 returning home — " quam humilem, sed quam dili- 
 gentissimum ; quam dejectum, sed quam vigilem, quam 
 die noctuque precantem, decet me esse quum tales 
 viros aspicio. Juva, Pater, Fill, et Spiritus!" ['' 
 how humble yet how diligent, how lowly yet how 
 watchful, how prayerful night and day it becomes me 
 to be, when I see such men. Help, Father, Son, and 
 Spirit!"] 
 
 From this date he seems to have sat, along with his 
 friend Mr. Somerville, almost entirely under Mr. 
 Bruce's ministry. He took copious notes of his lec- 
 tures and sermons, which still remain among his 
 papers. 
 
 '^Feb. 28. — Sober conversation. Fain would I turn 
 to the most interesting of all subjects. Cowardly 
 backwardness: 'For whosoever is ashamed of me 
 and my words,' " &c. 
 
 At this time, hearing, concerning a friend of the 
 family, that she had said, " that she was deter 'Hfiined 
 to keep by the ivorld,''^ he penned the following lines 
 on her melancholy decision : 
 
 She has chosen the world, 
 And its paltry crowd, — 
 
 She has chosen the world, 
 And an endless shroud I 
 
 She has chosen the world, 
 
 With its misnamed pleasures : 
 
 She has chosen the world, 
 
 Before heaven's own treasures. 
 
 * He says of him on anotlier occasion, June 6, 1834 — "A man 
 greatly beloved, of whom the world was not worthy." " An apostolic 
 man." His own calm, deep holiness, resembled in many respects 
 Mr. Martin's daily walk. 
 
16 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 She hath launched her boat 
 
 On life's giddy sea, 
 And her all is afloat 
 
 For eternity. 
 But Bethlehem's star 
 
 Is not in her view; 
 And her aim is far 
 
 From the harbour true. 
 
 When the storm descends 
 
 From an angry sky, 
 Ah I where from the winds 
 
 Shall the vessel fly ? 
 When the stars are concealed, 
 
 And the rudder gone, 
 And heaven is sealed 
 
 To the wandering one ! 
 
 The whirlpool opes 
 For the gallant prize ; 
 
 And, with all her hopes. 
 To the deep she hies I 
 
 But who may tell 
 
 Of the place of wo, 
 Where the wicked dwell — 
 
 Where the worldlings go'? 
 
 For the human heart 
 
 Can ne'er conceive 
 What joys are the part 
 
 Of them who believe; 
 Nor can justly tliink 
 
 Of the cup of death 
 Which all must drink 
 
 Who despise the faith. 
 
 Away, then — O I fly 
 
 From the joys of earth I 
 Her smile is a lie — 
 
 There's a sting in her mirth. 
 Come, leave the dreams 
 
 Of this transient night. 
 And bask in the beams 
 
 Of an endless light. 
 
 " March 6. — Wild wind and rain all day long. 
 Hebrew class — psalms. New beauty in the original 
 every time I read. Dr. Welsh — lecture on PUny's 
 letter about the Christians of Bithynia. Professor 
 Jameson on quartz. Dr. Chalmers grappling with 
 Hume's arguments. Evening—Notes and little else. 
 Mind and body dull.'' This is a specimen of his re- 
 gister of daily study. 
 
 March 20 — After a few sentences in Latin, con- 
 cluding with, " In meam animam veni, Domine Dens 
 omnipotens," he writes, " Leaning on a staff of my 
 own devising, it betrayed me, and broke under me. 
 It was not thy staff. Resolving to be a god, thou 
 showedst me that I was but a man. But my own 
 st^if being broken, why may I not lay hold of thine? 
 — Read part of the life of Jonathan Edwards. How 
 feeble does my spark of Christianity appear beside 
 such a sun! But even his was a borrowed light, and 
 the same source is still open to enlighten me. 
 
 " April 8. — Have found much rest in Him who bore 
 all our burdens for us." 
 
 " *^2^ril 26. — To-night I ventured to break the ice 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I7 
 
 of unchristian silence. Why should not selfishness be 
 buried beneath the Atlantic in matters so sacred?" 
 
 May 6. — Saturday evening. — This was the evening 
 previous to the Communion, and in prospect of again 
 declaring himself the Lord's, at his table, he enters 
 into a brief review of his state. He had partaken 
 of the ordinance in jNIay of the year before for the 
 first time; but he was then living at ease, and saw 
 not the solemn nature of the step he took. He now 
 sits down and reviews the past: 
 
 ^' What a mass of corruption have I been I How 
 great a portion of my life have I spent wholly with- 
 out God in the world; given up to sense and the per- 
 ishine thinojs around me. Naturallv of a feelinof and 
 sentimental disposition, how much of my religion has 
 been, and to this day is, tinged wi^h these colours of 
 earth ! Restrained from open vice by educational 
 views and the fear of man, how much ungodliness 
 has reisned within me! How often has it broken 
 through all restraints, and come out in the shape of lusts 
 and anger, mad ambition, and unhallowed words! 
 Though my vice was always refined, yet how subtile 
 and how awfully prevalent it was ! How complete a 
 test was the Sabbath — spent in weariness, as much of 
 it as was given to God's service ! How I polluted 
 it by my hypocrisies, my self-conceits, my worldly 
 thoughts, and worldly friends! How formally and 
 unheedingly the Bible was read— ^how little was read 
 — so little that even now I have not read it all! How 
 unboundedly was the wild impulse of the heart obey- 
 ed ! How much more was the creature loved than 
 the Creator !— =,^0 great God, that didst suffer me to 
 hve whilst I so dishonoured thee, thou knowest the 
 whole; and it was thy hand alone that could awaken 
 me from the death in which I was, and was contented 
 to be. Gladly would I have escaped from the Shep- 
 herd that sought me as I strayed ; but he took me up 
 in his arms and carried me back ; and yet he took 
 me not for any thing that was in me. I was no more 
 fit for his service than the Australian, and no more 
 
 2^ 
 
IS MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 worthy to be called and chosen. Yet, why should 
 I doubt? not God's unwillingness, not his ability 
 — of both I am assured. But, perhaps, my old 
 sins are too fearful, and my unbelief too glaring. 
 Nay; I come to Christ not although I am a sinner, 
 but just hecaiise I am a sinner, even the chief.'' He 
 then adds, " And though sentiment and constitutional 
 enthusiasm may have a great effect on me, still I be- 
 lieve that my soul is in sincerity desirous and earnest 
 about having all its concerns at rest with God and 
 Christ — that his kingdom occupies the most part of all 
 my thoughts, and even of my long-polluted affections. 
 Not unto me, not unto me, be the shadow of praise 
 or of merit ascribed, but let all glory be given to thy 
 most holy name! As surely as thou didst make 
 the mouth with which I pray, so surely dost thou 
 prompt every prayer of faith which I utter. Thou 
 hast made me all that I am, and given me all that I 
 have." 
 
 Next day, after communicating, he writes: " I well 
 remember when I was an enemy, and especially ab- 
 horred this ordinance as binding me down ; but if I 
 be bound to Christ in heart, I shall not dread any 
 band that can draw me close to him." Evenins:. — 
 "Much peace. Look back, my soul, and view the 
 mind that belonged to thee but twelve months ago — 
 my soul, thy place is in the dust!" 
 
 ''May 19. — Thought with more comfort than usual 
 of being a witness for Jesus in a foreign land." 
 
 ''June 4. — Walking with A. Somerville by Craig- 
 leith. Conversing on missions. If I am to go to the 
 heathen to speak of the unsearchable riches of Christ, 
 this one thing must be given me, to be out of the 
 reach of the baneful influence of esteem or contempt. 
 If worldly motives go with me, I shall never convert 
 a soul, and shall lose my own in the labour." 
 
 " June 22.— Variety of studies. Septuagint trans- 
 lation of Exodus, and Vulgate. Bought Edwards' 
 works. Drawing— Truly there was nothing in me 
 that should have induced God to choose me. I was 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I9 
 
 but as the other brands upon whom the fire is ah'eady 
 kindled, wliich shall burn for evermore! And as 
 soon could the billet leap from the hearth and become 
 a green tree, as my soul could have sprung to new- 
 ness of life." 
 
 June 25. — In reference to the office of the holy 
 ministry: "How apt are we to lose our hours in the 
 vainest babblings, as do the world! How can this be 
 with those chosen for the mighty office, fellow- 
 w^orkers with God, heralds of his son, evangelists, 
 men set apart to the work, chosen out of the chosen, 
 as it were the very pick of the flocks, who are to shine 
 as the stars for ever and ever ? Alas, alas ! my soul, 
 where shalt thou appear ? Lord God, I am a little 
 child ! But thou wilt send an angel with a live coal 
 from off the altar, and touch my unclean lips, and put 
 a tongue within my dry mouth, so that I shall say 
 with Isaiah, ^Here am I; send me.'" Then, after 
 reading a little of Edwards' works, "0 that heart and 
 understanding may grow together, like brother and 
 sister, leaning on one another." 
 
 '-June 27. — Life of David Brainerd. Most won- 
 derful man ! What conflicts, what depressions, de- 
 sertions, strength, advancement, victories, within thy 
 torn bosom ! I cannot express what I feel when 
 I think of thee. To-night, more set upon missionary 
 enterprise than ever. 
 
 "' June 28. — for Brainerd's humility and sin- 
 loathing disposhions !" 
 
 '^ June 30. — Much carelessness, sin and sorrow. 
 
 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me 
 from this body of sin and death? Enter thou, my soul, 
 into the rock, and hide thee in the dust for fear of the 
 Lord and the glory of his majesty." And then he 
 writes a few verses, of which the following are some 
 stanzas : 
 
 "I will arise and seek my God, " 
 
 And bowed down beneath my load. 
 
 Lay all my sins before him ; 
 Then he will wash my soul from sin, 
 And put a new heart me within, 
 
 And teach me to adore him. 
 
20 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "O ye that fain would find the J03' — 
 The only one that wants alloy — 
 
 Wliich never is deceiving; 
 Come to the Well of Life with me, 
 And drink, as it is proffered, free, 
 
 The gospel draught receiving. 
 
 " I come to Christ, because I know 
 The very worst are called to go: 
 
 And when in faith I find him, 
 I'll walk in liim, and lean on him. 
 Because I cannot move a limb 
 
 Until he say, 'Unbind him.' " 
 
 ^^ July o, — This last bitter root of worldliness that 
 has so often betrayed me has this night so grossly, 
 that I cannot but regard it as God's chosen way to 
 make me loathe and forsake it for ever. I would 
 vow; but it is much more like a weakly worm to 
 pray. Sit in the dust, my soul!" I believe he 
 was enabled to keep his resolution. Once only, in 
 in the end of this year, was he again led back to 
 gaiety; but it was the last time. 
 
 '^July 7. — Saturday.— After finishing my usual 
 studies, tried to fast a little, with much prayer and 
 earnest seeking of God's face, remembering what 
 occurred this night last year." 
 
 ^^July 22. — Had this evening a more complete 
 understanding of that self-emptying and abasement 
 with Avhich it is necessary to come to Christ — a deny- 
 ing of self, trampling it under foot — a recognizing of 
 the complete righteousness and justice of God, that 
 could do nothing else with us but condemn us utterly, 
 and thrust us down to tlie lowest hell, — a feeling that, 
 even in hell, we should rejoice in his sovereignty and 
 say that all was rightly done." 
 
 '^August 15. — Little done, and as little suiTered. 
 Awfully important question — Am I redeeming the 
 lime V 
 
 'yAug. IS, — Heard of the death of James Somer- 
 ville"^ by fever, induced by cholera. God, thy 
 
 * Son of the minister of Drummelzier — very promising and very 
 amiable. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. 21 
 
 ways and thoughts are not as ours ! He had preach- 
 ed his first sermon. I saw him last on Friday, 27th 
 July, at the College gate; shook hands; and Uttle 
 thought I was to see him no more on earth." 
 
 "•September 2. — Sabbath evening. — Reading. Too 
 much engrossed, and too httle devotional. Prepara- 
 tion for a fall. Warning. We may be too engrossed 
 with the shell even of heavenly things.'^ 
 
 ''Sept. 9. — 0! for true, unfeigned humility! I 
 know I have cause to be humble ; and yet I do not 
 know one half of that cause. I know I am proud ; 
 and yet I do not know the half of that pride." 
 
 ''Sept. 30. — Somewhat straitened by loose Sabbath 
 observance. Best way is to be explicit and manly." 
 
 "November 1. — More abundant longings for the 
 work of the ministry. that Christ would but count 
 me faithful, that a dispensation of the Gospel might 
 be committed to me !" And then he adds, " Much 
 peace. Peaceful., because believing.^^ 
 
 December 2. — Hitherto he used to spend much of 
 the Sabbath evening in extending his notes of Mr. 
 Bruce 's sermons ; but now, " Determined to be brief 
 with these for the sake of a more practical, medita- 
 tive, resting, sabbatical evening." 
 
 "Dec. 11. — Mind quite unfitted for devotion. Pray- 
 erless prayer." 
 
 "Dec. 31. — God has in this past year introduced 
 me to the preparation of the ministry — I bless him 
 for that. He has helped me to give up much of my 
 shame to name his name, and be on his side, especially 
 before particular friends — I bless him for that. He 
 has taken conclusively away friends that might have 
 been a snare — must have been a stumbhn2:-block — I 
 bless him for that. He has introduced me to one 
 Christian friend, and sealed more and more my amity 
 with another — I bless him for that." 
 
 January 23. 1833. — On this day it had been the 
 custom of his brother David to write a " Carmen 
 Natale" on their father's birth-day. Robert took up 
 the domestic song this year ; and, in doing so, makes 
 some beautiful and tender allusions. 
 
22 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " Ah I where is the harp that was strung- to thy praise, 
 So ofl and so sweetly in happier days ? 
 When the tears that we shed were the tears of our joy, 
 And the pleasures of home were unmixed with alloy ? 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ' 
 
 Though he sparkled the gem in our circle of love, 
 
 He is even more prized in the circles above. 
 
 And though sweetly he sung of his father on earth, 
 
 When this day would inspire him with tenderest mirth, 
 
 Yet a holier tone to his harp is now given, 
 
 As he s'uiirs to his unborn Father in heaven.'''* 
 
 Fehruary 3. — Writing to a medical friend of his 
 brother William's, he says — " I remember long ago 
 a remark you once made to William, which has some- 
 how or other stuck in my head, viz., that medical men 
 ought to make a distinct study of the Bible, purely for 
 the sake of administering conviction and consolation 
 to their patients. I think you also said that you had 
 actually begun with that view. Such a determination, 
 though formed in youth, is one which I trust riper 
 years w^ill not make you blush to own." 
 
 '-'Feb. 11. — Somewhat overcome. Let me see: 
 there is a creeping defect here. Humble, purpose- 
 like reading of the word omitted. What plant can 
 be unwatered and not wither?" 
 
 " Feb. 16. — Walk to Corstorphine Hill. Exquisite 
 clear view — blue water, and brown fields, and green 
 firs. INlany thoughts on the follies of my youth. How 
 many, Lord, may they be .^ Summed up in one — 
 ungodliness !" 
 
 '-''Feb. 21. — Am I as willing as ever to preach to 
 the lost heathen ?" 
 
 " March 8. — Biblical criticism. This must not 
 supersede heart-work. How apt it is !" 
 
 " March 12. — for activity, activity, activity !" 
 
 " March 29. — To-day my second session (at the 
 Divinity Hall) ends. I am now in the middle of my 
 career. God hold me on with a steady pace !" 
 
 " March 31. — The bull tosses in the net ! How 
 should the Christian imitate the anxieties of the world- 
 ling ?-' 
 
 A,^prll 17. — He heard of the death of one whom 
 many friends had esteemed nuich and lamented deeply. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 23 
 
 This led him to touch the strings of his harp again, in 
 a measure somewhat irregular, yet sad and sweet. 
 
 " WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF." 
 SHE LIVED — 
 
 So dyin^-like and frail, 
 
 That every bitter gale 
 
 Of winter seemed to blow 
 
 Only to lay her low I 
 
 She lived to show how He 
 
 Who stills the stormy sea, 
 
 Can overrule the winter's power, 
 
 And keep alive the tiniest flower — 
 
 Can bear the young lamb in his arms. 
 
 And shelter it from death's alarms. 
 
 SHE DIED — 
 
 When spring, with brightest flowers, 
 
 Was freshening all the bowers. 
 
 The linnet sung her choicest lay, 
 
 When her sweet voice was hushed for aye 
 The snowdrop rose above the ground 
 When she beneath her pillow tbund, 
 
 Both cold, and white, and fair — 
 
 The fairest of the fair ! 
 
 She died to teach us all 
 
 The loveliest must fall. 
 
 A curse is written on the brow 
 
 Of beauty : — and the lover's vow 
 
 Cannot retain the flitting breath, 
 
 Nor save from all devouring death. 
 
 SHE LIVES — 
 
 The spirit left the earth ; 
 
 And He who gave her birth 
 
 Has called her to his dread abode, 
 
 To meet her Saviour and her God. 
 
 She lives, to tell how blest 
 
 Is the everlasting rest 
 
 Of those who, in the Lamb's blood laved, 
 Are chosen, sanctified, and saved ! 
 
 How fearful is their doom 
 
 Who drop into the tomb 
 
 Without a covert from the ire 
 
 Of Him who is consuming fire. 
 
 SHE SHALL LIVE- 
 
 The grave shall yield his prize. 
 
 When, from the rending skies, 
 
 Christ shall with shouting angels come, 
 To wake the slumbers of the tomb. 
 
24 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 And many more shall rise 
 Before our longing ej-es. 
 
 Oh ! may we all together meet, 
 
 Embracing the Redeemer's feet ! 
 
 " May 20. — General Assembly. The motion re- 
 garding Chapels of Ease lost, by 106 to 103. Every 
 shock of the ram is heavier and stronger, till all shall 
 give way.^' 
 
 " June 4. — Evening almost lost. JNIusic will not 
 sanctify, thoiigli it make feminine the heart." 
 
 '• June 22. — Omissions made way for commissions. 
 Could I but take eflective warning ! A world's 
 wealth would not make up for that saying, ' If any 
 man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.' Bat 
 how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer 
 therein?" 
 
 ^' Jiuie 30. — Self-examination. Why is a mission- 
 ary life so often an object of my thoughts? Is it 
 simply for the love I bear to souls? Then, why do 
 I not show it more where I am ? Souls are as pre- 
 cious here as in Burmah. Does the romance of the 
 business not weigh anything with me ? — the interest 
 and esteem I would carry with me? — the nice jour- 
 nals and letters I should write and receive ? Why 
 would I so much rather go to the East than to the 
 West Indies ? Am I wholly deceiving my own heart ? 
 and have I not a spark of true missionary zeal ? 
 Lord, give me to understand and imitate the spirit of 
 those unearthly words of thy dear Son, ^ It is enough for 
 the disciple that he be as his JNIaster, and the servant 
 as his Lord.' ^He that loveth father or mother more 
 than me, is not worthy of me.' Gloria in excelsis 
 Deo.'' 
 
 ''^ Aus^ust 13. — Clear conviction of sin is the only 
 true origin of dependence on another's righteousness, 
 and therefore, (strange to say!) of the Christian's 
 peace of mind and cheerfnlness." 
 
 " Sejn. 8. — Reading Adam's Private Thoughts. 
 for his heart-searching humility ! Ah me ! on what 
 mountains of pride must I be wandering, when all I 
 do is tinctured with the very sins this man so deplores; 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 25 
 
 yet where are my wailings, where ray tears, over my 
 love of praise ?" 
 
 '^ November lA. — Composition — a pleasant kind of 
 labour. I fear the love of applause or effect, goes 
 a great way. May God keep me from preaching 
 myself, instead of Christ crucified.'^ 
 
 ^^ January 15, 1834. — Heard of the death of J. S., 
 off the Cape of Good Hope. God ! how thou break- 
 est into famiUes! Must not the disease be dangerous, 
 when a tender-hearted surgeon cuts deep into the 
 flesh? How much more when God is the operator, 
 'who afllicteth wot from his heart, o^Sd nor grieveth 
 the children of men.' Lam. iii. 33." 
 
 '^ February 23. — Sabbath. — Rose early to seek God, 
 and found him whom my soul loveth. Who would 
 not rise early to meet such company? The rains are 
 over and gone. They that sow in tears shall reap in 
 joy." 
 
 Feb. 22. — He writes a letter to one who, he feared, 
 w^as only sentimental, and not really under a sense of 
 sin. '' Is it possible, think you, for a person to be 
 conceited of his miseries ? INlay there not be a deep 
 leaven of pride in telling how desolate and how un- 
 feeling we are ? — in brooding over our unearthly 
 pains? — in our being excluded from the uns^anpa- 
 theticVorld? — in our being the invalids of Christ's 
 hospital ?" He had himself been taught by the Spirit 
 that it is more humbling to take what grace offers, 
 than to bewail our wants and worthlessness. 
 
 Two da3^s after, he records, with thankful astonish- 
 ment, that for the first time in his hfe he had been 
 blest to awaken a soul. All who find Christ for 
 themselves are impelled, by the holy necessity of con- 
 straining love, to seek the salvation of others. An- 
 drew findeth his brother Peter, and Philip findeth his 
 friend Nathanael. So was it in the case before us. 
 He no sooner knew Christ's righteousness as his own 
 covering, than he longed to see others clothed in the 
 same spotless robe. And it is peculiarly interesting 
 to read the feelings of one who was yet to be blest in 
 plucking so many brands from the fire, when for the 
 
 3 
 
26 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 first time he saw the Lord graciously employing him 
 ill this more than angelic work. We have his own 
 testimony: — ''Feb. 25. After sermon. The precious 
 tidings tliat a soul has been melted down by the grace 
 of the Saviour. How blessed an answer to prayer, if 
 it be really so! ^ Can these dry bones live? Lord, 
 thou knowest.' What a blessed thing it is to see the 
 first grievings of the awakened spirit, w4ien it cries, 
 * I cannot see myself a sinner ; I cannot pray, for my 
 vile heart wanders.' It has refreshed me more than 
 a thousand sermons. I know not how to thank and 
 admire God sufficiently for this incipient work. Lord, 
 perfect that which thou hast begun !'' A few days 
 after. — " Lord, I thank thee that thou hast shown me 
 this marvellous working, though I was but an adoring 
 spectator, rather than an instrument." 
 
 It is scarcely less interesting, in the case of one so 
 gifted for the work of visiting the careless, and so 
 smgularly skilled in ministering the word by the bed- 
 side of the dying, to find a record of the occasion 
 when the Lord led him forth to take his first survey 
 of this field of labour. There existed at that time, 
 among some of the students attending the Divinity 
 Hall, a society, the sole object of which was to stir up 
 each other to set apart an hour or two every week for 
 visiting the careless and needy in the most neglected 
 portions of the town. Our rule was, not to subtract 
 anything from our hours of study, but to devote to this 
 work an occasional hour in the intervals between dif- 
 ferent classes, or an hour that might otherwise have 
 been given to recreation. All of us felt the work to 
 be trying to the flesh at the outset ; but none ever 
 repented of persevering in it. One Saturday forenoon, 
 at the close of the usual prayer-meeting, which met in 
 Dr. Chalmers's vestry, we went up together to a dis- 
 trict in the Castle Hill. It was Robert's first near 
 view of the heathenism of his native city, and the 
 effect was enduring. 
 
 " March 3. — Accompanied A. B. in one of his 
 rounds through some of the most miserable habita- 
 tions I ever beheld. Such scenes I never before 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 27 
 
 dreamed of. Ah, why am I such a stranger to the 
 poor in my native town? I have passed their doors 
 thousands of times; I have admired the huge black 
 piles of building, with their lofty chimneys breaking 
 the sun's rays — why have I never ventured within? 
 How dwelleth the love of God in me ? How cordial 
 is the welcome even of the poorest and most loath- 
 some to the voice of Christian sympathy! What 
 imbedded masses of human beings are huddled toge- 
 ther, unvisited by friend or minister ! ' No man 
 careth for our souls,' is written over every forehead. 
 Awake, my soul ! Why should I give hours and days 
 any longer to the vain world, when there is such a 
 world of misery at my very door? Lord, put thine 
 own strength in me; confirm every good resolution; 
 forgive my past long Vife of uselessness and folly.^^ 
 
 He forthwith became one of the society's most 
 steady members, cultivating a district in the Canon- 
 gate, and distributing the Monthly Visitor, along with 
 Mr. Somerville. His experience there was fitted to 
 give him insight into the sinner's depravity, in all its 
 forms. His first visit in his district is thus noticed — 
 '^ March 2A:. Visited two families with tolerable suc- 
 cess. God grant a blessing may go with us! Began 
 in fear and weakness, and in much trembling. May 
 the power be of God." Soon after, he narrates the 
 
 following scene: — "Entered the house of . Heard 
 
 Iier swearing as I came up the stair. Found her 
 storming at three little grandchildren, whom her 
 daughter had left with her. She is a seared, hard- 
 hearted wretch. Read Ezekiel xxxiii. Interrupted 
 by the entrance of her second daughter, furiously 
 demanding her marriage-lines. Became more dis- 
 creet. Promised to come back — never came. Her 
 father-in-law entered, a hideous spectacle of an aged 
 drunkard, demanding money. Left the house with 
 warnings." Another case he particularly mentions 
 of a sick woman, who, though careless before, sud- 
 denly seemed to float into a sea of joy, without being 
 able to give any scriptural account of the change. 
 She continued, I believe, to her death in this state ; 
 
23 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 but he feared it was a subtle delusion of Satan, as an 
 angel of light. One soul, however, was, to all appear- 
 ances, brought truly to the Rock of Ages, during his 
 and his friend's prayerful visitations. These were 
 first-fruits. 
 
 He continues his diary, though often considerable 
 intervals occur in the register of his spiritual state. 
 
 '^ May 9. — How kindly has God thwarted me in 
 every instance where I sought to enslave myself. I 
 will learn at least to glory in disappointments." 
 
 ''May 10. — At the communion. Felt less use for 
 the minister than ever. Let the Master of the feast 
 alone speak to my heart." He felt at such times, as 
 many of the Lord's people have always done, that it 
 is not the addresses of the ministers in serving the 
 table, but the Supper itself, that ought to ^'satiate 
 their souls with fatness." 
 
 May 2L — It is affecting to us to read the following 
 entry : — '- This day I attained my twenty-first year. 
 how long and how worthlessly I have lived. Thou 
 only knowest! Neff died in his thirty-first year; 
 when shall I?"* 
 
 May 29. — He this day wrote very faithfully, yet very 
 kindly, to one who seemed to him not a believer, and 
 wiio, nevertheless, appropriated to herself xYiq promi- 
 ses of God. ^' If you are wholly unassured of your 
 being a believer, is it not a contradiction in terms to 
 say, that you are sure the believer's promises belong 
 to you? Are you an assured believer? If so, rejoice 
 in your heirship; and yet rejoice with trembling; for 
 that is the very character of God's heirs. But are you 
 unassured — nay, wholly unassured? then what mad 
 presumption to say to your soul, that these promises, 
 
 * It is worthy of notice, how often the Lord has done much work 
 by a few years of holy labour. In our church, G. Gillespie and J. 
 Durham died at thirty-six; Hugh Binning at twenty-six; Andrew- 
 Gray when scarcely at twenty-two. Of our witnesses, Patrick Ham- 
 ilton was cut off at twenty-four, and Hugh McKail at twenty-six. In 
 other churches we might mention many, such as John Janeway 
 at twenty-three, David Brainerd at thirty, and Henry Blartyn at 
 thirty-two. Theirs was a short life, filled up with usefuhiess, and 
 crowned with glory. O to be as they I 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 29 
 
 being in the Bible, must belong indiscriminately to 
 all? It is too gross a contradiction for you to com- 
 pass, except in word." He then shows that Chrisfs 
 free offer must be accepted by the sinner, and so the 
 j^romises become his. "The sinner complies with the 
 call or offer, ' Come unto me;' and thereafter, but not 
 before, can claim the annexed promise as his, — 'I will 
 give thee rest.' " 
 
 '^ jiugust 14. — Partial fast, and seeking God's face 
 by prayer. This day thirty years, my late dear bro- 
 ther was born. for more love, and then will come 
 more peace." That same evening he wrote the hymn, 
 '' The Barren Fig-TreeP 
 
 '^ October 17. — Private meditation exchanged for 
 conversation. Here is the root of the evil — forsake 
 God, and he forsakes us." 
 
 Some evening this month he had been reading 
 " Baxter's Call to the Unconverted." Deeply im- 
 pressed with the affectionate and awfully solemn 
 inquiry of the man of God, he wrote, — 
 
 '' Though Baxter's lips have long in silence hung, 
 And death long hush'd that sinner-wakening tongue; 
 Yet still, though dead, he speaks aloud to all, 
 And from the grave still issues forth his "Call." 
 Like some loud angel-voice from Zion Hill, 
 The miglity echo rolls and rumbles still. 
 O grant that we, when sleeping in the dust, 
 May thus speak forth the wisdom of the just." 
 
 Mr. McCheyne was peculiarly subject to attacks of 
 fever, and by one of these he was laid down on a sick 
 bed on November 15th. However, this attack was 
 of short duration. On the 21st he v/rites — "Bless the 
 Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. 
 Learned more and more of the value of Jehovah 
 Tzidkenu?^ He had, three days before, written his 
 well-known hymn, " / once was a stranger, ^^ &c., 
 entitled "Jehovah Tzidkenu, the Watchward of the 
 Reformers." It was the fruit of a slight illness which 
 had tried his soul, by setting it more immediately in 
 view of the judgment-seat of Christ; and the hymn 
 he so sweetly sung, reveals the sure and soUd confi- 
 
 3* 
 
30 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 deuce of his soul. In reference to that same illness 
 ]je seems to have penned the following lines, Novem- 
 her 24: — 
 
 He tenderly binds up the broken in heart, 
 The soul bowed down he will raise ; 
 - For mourning the ointment of joy will impart, 
 For heaviness, garments of praise. 
 
 Ah come, then, and sing to the praise of our God, 
 
 Who givcth and taketh away; 
 Wlio first by his kindness, and then by his rod. 
 
 Would teach us, poor sinners, to pray. 
 
 For in the assembly of Jesus' first-born, 
 
 Who anthems of gratitude raise; 
 Each heart has by great tribulation been torn, 
 
 Each voice turned from wailing to praise. 
 
 " November 9. — Heard of Edward Irving's death. 
 I look back upon him with awe, as on the saints and 
 martyrs of old. A holy man in spite of all his de- 
 lusions and errors. He is now with his God and Sa- 
 viour, whom he wronged so much, yet, I am persuad- 
 ed, loved so sincerely. How should we lean for wis- 
 dom, not on ourselves, but on the God of all grace. '^ 
 
 ^^ Nov. 21. — If nothing else will do to sever me 
 from my sins, Lord, send me such sore and trying 
 calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers. 
 It must always be best to be alive to thee, whatever 
 be the quickening instrument. I tremble as I write, 
 for oh! on every hand do I see too likely occasions 
 for sore afflictions.^' 
 
 ^'February 15, 1S35. — To-morrow I undergo my 
 trials before the Presbytery. May God give me 
 courage in the hour of need. What should I fear? 
 If God see meet to put me into the ministry, wlio 
 shall keep me back? If I be not meet, why should I 
 be thrust for v.^ard? To thy service I desire to dedi- 
 cate myself over and over again.'' 
 
 " March 1 . — Bodily service. What change is there 
 in the heart! Wild, earthy affections there are here; 
 strong, coarse passions; bands both of iron and silk. 
 But I thank thee, my God, that they make me cxy, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 31 
 
 ' wretched man !' Bodily weakness, too, depresses 
 
 me." 
 
 " March 29. — College finished on Friday last. My 
 last appearance there. Life itself is vanishing fast. 
 Make haste for eternity.'' 
 
 In such records as these, we read God's dealings 
 with his soul up to the time when he was licensed to 
 preach the gospel. His preparatory discipline, both 
 of heart and intellect, had been directed by the Great 
 Head of the Church in a way that remarkably quali- 
 fied him for the work he was to perform in the vine- 
 yard. 
 
 His soul was prepared for the awful work of the 
 ministry by much prayer, and much study of the 
 word of God; by affliction in his person; by inward 
 trials and sore temptations; by experience of the 
 depth of corruption in his own heart; and by discove- 
 ries of the Saviour's fulness of grace. He learnt ex- 
 perimentally to ask — ^' Who is he that overcometh the 
 world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of 
 God." (1 John v. 5). During the four years that 
 followed his awakening, he was oftentimes under the 
 many waters, but was ever raised again by the same 
 divine hand that had drawn him out at the first ; till 
 at length, though still often violently tossed, the ves- 
 sel was able steadily to keep the summit of the wave. 
 It appears that he learned the way of salvation experi- 
 mentally, ere he knew it accurately by theory and 
 system; and thus no doubt it was that his whole min- 
 istry was little else than a giving out of his own in- 
 ward life. 
 
 The Visiting Society noticed above was much 
 blessed to the culture of his soul, and not less so the 
 Missionary Association and the Prayer Meeting con- 
 nected with it. None were more regular at the hour 
 of prayer than he, and none more frequently led up 
 our praises to the throne. He was for some time Sec- 
 retary to the association, and interested himself deeply 
 in details of missionary labours. Indeed, to the last 
 day of his life, his thoughts often turned to foreign 
 lands; and one of the last notes he wrote was to the 
 
32 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 secretary of the association in Edinburgh, expressing 
 his unabated interest in their prosperity. 
 
 During the first years of his college course, his 
 studies did not absorb his whole attention ; but no 
 sooner was the change on his soul begun, than his 
 studies shared in the results. A deeper sense of 
 responsibility led. him to occupy his talents for the 
 service of Him who bestowed them. There have been 
 few who, along with a devotedness of spirit that 
 sought to be ever directly engaged in the Lord's work, 
 have nevertheless retained such continued and unde- 
 caying esteem for the advantages of study. Wiiile 
 attending the usual hterary and philosophical classes, 
 he found time to turn his attention to Geology and 
 Natural History. And often in his days of most suc- 
 cessful preaching, when, next to his own soul, his 
 parish and his flock were his only care, he has been 
 known to express a regret that he had not laid up in 
 former days more stores of all useful knowledge ; for 
 he found himself able to use the jewels of the Egyp- 
 tians in the service of Christ. His previous studies 
 would sometimes flash into his mind some happy illus- 
 tration of Divine truth, at the very moment when he 
 was most solemnly applying the glorious gospel to 
 the most ignorant and vile. 
 
 His own words will best shov/ his estimate of study, 
 and at the same time the prayerful manner in which 
 he felt it should be carried on. " Do get on with your 
 studies," he wrote to a young student in 1840. ^' Re- 
 member you are now forming the character of 3^our 
 future ministry in great measure, if God spare you. 
 If you acquire slovenly or sleepy habits of study now, 
 you will never get the better of it. Do every thing 
 in its own time. Do every thing in earnest — if it is 
 worth doing, then do it with all your might. Above 
 all, keep much in the presence of God. Never see 
 the face of man till you have seen his face who is our 
 life, our all. Pray for others : pray for your teachers, 
 fellow students," &c. To another he wrote — " Be- 
 ware of the atmosphere of the classics. It is pernicious 
 indeed; and you need much of the south wind breath- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 33 
 
 iiig over the Scriptures to counteract it. True, we 
 ought to know them; but only as chemists handle 
 poisons — to discover their qualities, not to infect their 
 blood with them.'^ And again — " Pray that the Holy 
 Spirit would not only make you a believing and holy 
 lad, but make you wise in your studies also. A ray 
 of Divine light in the soul sometimes clears up a ma- 
 thematical problem wonderfully. The smile of God 
 calms the spirit, and the left hand of Jesus holds up 
 the fainting head, and his Holy Spirit quickens the 
 affection ; so that even natural studies go on a million 
 times more easily and comfortably.^^ 
 
 Before entering the Divinity Hall, he had attended 
 a private class for the study of Hebrew ; and having 
 afterwards attended the two sessions of Dr. Brunton's 
 College Class, he made much progress in that lan- 
 guage. He could consult the Hebrew original of the 
 Old Testament with as much ease as most of our 
 ministers are able to consult the Greek of the New. 
 
 It was about the time of his first year's attendance 
 at the Hall that I began to know him as an intimate 
 friend. During the summer vacations — that we might 
 redeem the time — some of us who remained in town, 
 when most of our fellow-students were gone to the 
 country, used to meet once every week in the fore- 
 noon, for the purpose of investigating some point of 
 Systematic Divinity, and stating to each other the 
 amount and result of our private reading. At another 
 time, we met in a similar way, till we had overtaken 
 the chief points of the Popish controversy. Advance- 
 ment in our acquaintance with the Greek and Hebrew 
 Scriptures also brought us together ; and one summer 
 the study of Unfulfilled Prophecy assembled a few 
 of us once a-week, at an early morning hour, v/hen, 
 though our views differed much on particular points, 
 we never failed to get food to our souls in the Scrip- 
 tures we explored. But no society of this kind was 
 more useful and pleasant to us than one which, from 
 its object, received the name of Exegetical. It met 
 during the session of the Theological Classes every 
 Saturday morning at half-past six. The study of 
 
34 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Biblical criticism, and whatever might cast light on 
 the word of God, was our aim ; and these meetings 
 were kept up regularly during four sessions. JNIr. 
 McCheyne spoke of himself as indebted to this society 
 for much of that discipline of mind on Jewish litera- 
 ture and Scripture geography, which was to be so 
 useful in the mission of inquiry to the Jews in at^ter 
 days.* 
 
 But these helps in study were all the while no 
 more than supplementary. The regular systematic 
 studies of the Hall furnished the main provision for 
 his mental culture. Under Dr. Chalmers for Divinity, 
 and under Dr. Welsh for Church History, a course of 
 four years afforded no ordinary advantages for en- 
 
 * The members of this Society were — Rev. WilUa7n LavgJdon, now 
 minister of St. Thomas's, Greenock, in connexion with the Free 
 Church ; Thomas Brotcji, Free Church, KinnefF; William Wilson, 
 Free Church, Carmylie ; Horatius Bonar, Free Church, Kelso ; An- 
 drew A. Bonar, Free Church, Collace ; Robert M. McCherjne ; Alex- 
 ander Somervillc, Free Church, Anderston, Glasgow ; John Thomson, 
 Mariners' Free Church, Leith ; Robert R. Hamilton, Madras ; John 
 Burne, for some time at Madeira ; Patrick Borrowman, Free Church, 
 Glencairn; Walter IFoof/, Free Church, Weststruther ; Henry Mon- 
 crieff. Free Cliurch, Kilbride; James Cochrane, Established Church, 
 Cupar ; John Miller, Secretary to Free Church Special Commission ; 
 G. Smeaton, Free Church, Auchterardcr ; Robert Kinnear, Free 
 Church, Moffat; and W. B. Clarke, Free Church, Half-Morton. 
 Every meeting was opened and closed with prayer. Minutes of the 
 discussions were kept; and the Essays read were preserved in vol- 
 umes. A very characteristic essay of Mr. McCheync's is, ''Lebanon 
 and its Scenery," wherein he adduces the evidence of travellers for 
 facts and customs which himself was afterwards to see. Often in 
 1839, pleasant remembrances of these days of youthful study were 
 suggested by what we actually witnessed ; and in the essay referred 
 to I find an interesting coincidence. He writes — " What a refreshing 
 sight to his eye, yet undimmed with age, after resting forty years on 
 the monotonous scenery of the desert, now to rest on Zion's olive-clad 
 hills, and Lebanon, with its vine-clad base and overhanging forests, 
 and towering peaks of snow." This was the very impression on our 
 minds wlien we ourselves came up from the wilderness, as expressed 
 in the Narrative, chap. ii. — " May 29. Next morning we saw at a 
 distance a range of hills, running north and south, called by the Arabs 
 Djehel Khalie. After wandering so many days in the wilderness, 
 with its vast monotonous plains of level sand, the sight of these dis- 
 tant mountains was a pleasant relief to the eye ; and we thought we 
 could understand a little of the feeling with which Moses, after being 
 forty years in the desert, would pray, ' I pray thee let me go oyer,' 
 Deut, iii. 25." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 35 
 
 larging the understanding. New fields of thought 
 were daily opened up. His notes and his diary tes- 
 tify that he endeavoured to retain what he heard, 
 and that he used to read as much of the books recom- 
 mended by the professors as his time enabled him to 
 overtake. Many years after, he thankfully called to 
 mind lessons that had been taught in these classes. 
 Riding one day whh Mr. Hamilton (now of Regent 
 Square, London,) from Abernyte to Dundee, they 
 were led to speak of the best mode of dividing a ser- 
 mon. " I used," said he, " to despise Dr. Welsh's 
 rules at the time I heard him, but now I feel I inust 
 use them, for nothing is more needful for making a 
 sermon memorable and impressive than a logical 
 arrangement." 
 
 His intellectual powers were of a high order — 
 clear and distinct apprehension of his subject, and 
 felicitous illustration, characterized him among all his 
 companions. To an eager desire for wide acquaint- 
 ance with truth in all its departments, and a memory 
 strong and accurate in retaining what he found, there 
 was added a remarkable candour in examining what 
 claimed to be the truth. He had, also, an ingenious 
 and enterprising mind — a mind that could carry out 
 what was suggested, when it did not strike out new 
 light for itself. He possessed great powers of analy- 
 sis ; often his judgment discovered singular discrimina- 
 tion. His imagination seldom sought out objects of 
 grandeur; for, as a friend has truly said of him, "he 
 had a kind and quiet eye, which found out the living 
 and beautiful in nature, rather than the majestic and 
 sublime." 
 
 He miofht have risen to hisrh eminence in the circles 
 of taste and literature, but denied himself all such 
 hopes, that he might win souls. With such peculiar 
 talents as he possessed, his ministry might have, in 
 any circumstances, attracted many ; but these attrac- 
 tions were all made subsidiary to the single desire of 
 awakening the dead in trespasses and sins. Nor 
 would he have expected to be blessed to the salvation 
 of souls, unless he had himself been a monument of 
 
36 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 sovereign grace. In his esteem, " to be in Christ he- 
 fore being in the ministry,''^ was a thing indis- 
 pensable. He often pointed to those solemn words of 
 Jeremiah (xxiii. 21,) " I have not sent these prophets, 
 yet they ran; I have not spoken to thtm^yet they 
 prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, 
 and caused my people to hear 7ny words, then they 
 should have turned them from their evil way, and 
 from the evil of their doingsP 
 
 It was with faith already in his heart that he went 
 forward to the holy office of the ministry, receiving 
 from his Lord the rod by which he was to do signs, 
 and which, when it had opened rocks and made 
 waters gnsh out, he never failed to replace upon the 
 ark whence it was taken, giving glory to God ! He 
 knew not the way by which God Avas leading him ; 
 but even then he was under the guidance of that 
 pillar-cloud. At this very period he wrote that hymn, 
 " They sing the Song of Moses.'' His course was 
 then about to begin; but now that it has ended, we 
 can look back and plainly see that the faith he therein 
 expressed was not in vain. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 HIS LABOURS IN THE VINEYARD BEFORE ORDINATION. 
 
 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubt- 
 less come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. — 
 (Psa. cxxvi. 6.) 
 
 While he was still only undergoing a student's usual 
 examinations before the Presbytery, in the spring and 
 summer of 1835, several applications were made to 
 him by ministers in the church, who desired to secure 
 his services for their part of the vineyard. He was 
 especially urged to consider the field of labour at 
 Larbert and Dunipace, near Stirling, under Mr. John 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 37 
 
 Bonar, the pastor of these united parishes. This cir- 
 cumstance led him (as is often done in such cases) to 
 ask the Presbytery of Edinburgh, under whose super- 
 intendence he had hitherto carried on his studies, to 
 transfer the remainder of his pubUc trials to another 
 Presbytery, where there would be less press of busi- 
 ness to occasion delay. This request being readily 
 granted, his connection with Dumfriesshire led him to 
 the Presbyter}^ of Annan, who licensed him to preach 
 the gospel on July 1st, 1835. His feelings at the 
 moment appear from a record of his own in the even- 
 ing of the day: '"'Preached three probationary dis- 
 courses in Annan Church, and after an examination 
 in Hebrew, was solemnly licensed to preach the 
 gospel by Mr. Monylaws, the Moderator. Bless the 
 Lord, my soul; and all that is within me be stirred 
 up to praise and magnify his holy name! What 1 
 have so long desired as the highest honour of man, 
 thou at length givest me — me who dare scarcely nse 
 the words of Paul, ' Unto me who am less than the 
 least of all saints is this srace siven. that I should 
 preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.' Felt some- 
 what solemnized, though unable to feel my unwor- 
 thiness as I ought. Be clothed with humility." 
 
 An event occurred the week before, which cast a 
 solemnizing influence on him, and on his after-fellow- 
 traveller and brother in the gospel, who was licensed 
 by another Presbytery that same day. This event 
 was the lamented death of the Rev. John Brown Pat- 
 terson, of Falkirk — one whom the Lord had gifted 
 with pre-eminent eloquence and learning, and who 
 was using all for his Lord, when cut off by fever. He 
 had spoken much before his death of the awfulness of 
 a pastor's charge, and his early death sent home the 
 lesson to many, with the warning that the pastor's 
 account of souls might be suddenly required of him. 
 
 On the following Sabbath Mr. McCheyne preached, 
 for the first time, in Ruthwell Church, near Dumfries, 
 on "the Pool of Bethesda;" and in the afternoon, on 
 '-'• the Strait Gate." He writes that evening in his 
 diary: " Found it a more awfully solemn thing than 
 
 4 
 
38 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 I had imagined to announce Christ authoritatively; 
 yet a glorious privilege!" The week after (Saturday 
 July 11), " Lord, put me into thy service when and 
 where thou pleasest. In thy hand all my qualities 
 will be put to their appropriate end. Let me, then, 
 have no anxieties.'^ Next day, also, after preaching 
 in St. John's Church, Leith, " Remembered, before 
 going into the pulpit, the confession which says* ^We 
 have been more anxious about the messenger than 
 the message.' " In preaching that day, he states, ''It 
 came across me in the pulpit, that if spared to be a 
 minister, I might enjoy sweet flashes of communion 
 with God in that situation. The mind is entirely 
 wrought up to speak for God. It is possible, then, 
 that more vivid acts of faith may be gone through 
 then, than in quieter and sleepier moments." 
 
 It was not till the 7th of November that he began 
 his labours at Larbert. In the interval, he preached 
 in various places, and many began to perceive the 
 peculiar sweetness of the word in his lips. In accept- 
 ing the invitation to labour in the sphere proposed, he 
 wrote : '' It has always been my aim, and it is my 
 prayer, to have 7io j^lcins with regard to myself — well 
 assured as I am, that the place where the Saviour 
 sees meet to place me, must ever be the best place for 
 me." 
 
 The parish to which he had come was very large, 
 containing six thousand souls. The Parish Church is 
 at Larbert; but through the exertions of Mr. Bonar, 
 many years ago, a second church was erected for the 
 people of Dunipace. Mr. Hanna, afterwards minis- 
 ter of Skirling, had preceded Mr. McCheyne in the 
 duties of assistant in his field of labour ; and Mr. 
 McCheyne now entered on it with a fully devoted 
 and zealous heart, although in a weak state of health. 
 As assistant, it was his part to preach every alternate 
 Sabbath at Larbert and Dunipace, and during the 
 week to visit among the population of both these dis- 
 
 * He here refers to the *^Full and Candid Acknowledgment of Sin,''' 
 for Students and Ministers; drawn up by the Commission of Assem- 
 bly, in 1651, and often reprinted since. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 39 
 
 tricts, according as he felt himself enabled in body 
 and soul. There was a marked difference between 
 the two districts in their general features of character; 
 but equal labour was bestowed on both by the minis- 
 ter and his assistant; and often did their prayer ascend 
 that the windows of heaven might be opened over 
 the two sanctuaries. Souls have been saved there. 
 Often, however, did the faithful pastor mingle his 
 tears with those of his younger fellow-soldier, com- 
 plaining, ''Lord, who hath believed our report ?^^ 
 There was much sowing in faith; nor was this sowing 
 abandoned even when the returns seemed most inade- 
 quate. 
 
 Mr. McCheyne had great delight in remembering 
 that Larbert was one of the places where, in other 
 days, that holy man of God, Robert Bruce, had 
 laboured and prayed. Writing at an after-period from 
 the Holy Land, he expressed the wish, " JViay the 
 Spirit be poured upon Larbert as in Bruce's days.'' 
 But, more than all associations, the souls of the people, 
 whose salvation he longed for, were ever present to 
 his mind. A letter to Mr. Bonar, in 1S37, from Dun- 
 dee, shows us his yearnings over them. " What an 
 interest I feel in Larbert and Dunipace ! It is like the 
 land of my birth. Will the Sun of righteousness ever 
 rise upon it, making its hills and valleys bright with 
 the light of the knowledge of Jesus !'' 
 
 No sooner was he settled in his chamber here, than 
 he commenced his work. With him, the commence- 
 ment of all labour invariably consisted in the prepa- 
 ration of his own soul. The forerunner of each day's 
 visitations was a calm season of private devotion 
 durins: morninsr hours. The walls of his chamber 
 were witnesses of his prayerfulness — I believe of his 
 tears, as well as of his cries. The pleasant sound of 
 psalms often issued from his room at an early hour. 
 Then followed the reading of the word for his own 
 sanctification ; and few have so fully realized the 
 blessing of the first Psalm. His leaf did not wither, 
 for his roots were in the waters. It was here, too, 
 that he began to study so closely the works of Jona- 
 
40 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 than Edwards — reckoning them a mine to be wrought, 
 and if wrought, sure to repay the toil. Along with 
 this author, the Letters of Samuel Rutherford were 
 often in his hand. Books of general knowledge he 
 occasionally perused; but now it was done with the 
 steady purpose of finding in them some illustration of 
 spiritual truth. He rose from reading " Insect Archi- 
 tecture,^^ with the observation, " God reigns in a 
 community of ants and ichneumons, as visibly as 
 among living men or mighty seraphim!" 
 
 His desire to grow in acquaintance with Scripture 
 was very intense ; and both the Old and New Testa- 
 ment were his regular study. He loved to range over 
 the wide revelation of God. *'He would be a sorry 
 student of this world," said he to a friend, " who 
 should for ever confine his gaze to the fruitful fields 
 and well-watered gardens of this cultivated earth. 
 He could have no true idea of what the world was, 
 unless he had stood upon the rocks of our mountains 
 and seen the bleak muirs and mosses of our barren 
 land ; unless he had paced the quarter-deck when 
 the vessel was out of sight of land, and seen the waste 
 of waters without any shore upon the horizon. Just 
 so, he would be a sorry student of the Bible, who 
 would not know all that God has inspired; who 
 would not examine into the most barren chapters to 
 collect the good for which they were intended ; who 
 would not strive to understand all the bloody battles 
 which are chronicled, that he might find 'bread out 
 of the eater, and honey out of the lion.'" — {June, 
 1836.) 
 
 His anxiety to have every possible help to holiness 
 led him to notice what are the disadvantages of those 
 who are not daily stirred up by the fellowship of 
 more advanced believers. " I have found, by some 
 experience, that in the country here my watch does 
 not go so well as it used to do in town. By small 
 and gradual changes I find it eillier gains or loses, 
 and I am surprised to find myself different in time 
 from all the world, and, what is worse, from the sun. 
 The simple explanation is, that in town I met with a 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 41 
 
 Steeple in every street, and a good going clock upon 
 it; and so any aberrations in my watch were soon 
 noticed and easily corrected. And just so I some- 
 times think it may be with that inner watch, whose 
 hands point not to time but to eternity. By gradual 
 and slow changes the wheels of my soul lag behind, 
 or the springs of passions become too powerful ; and 
 I have no living time-piece with which I may com- 
 pare, and by which I may amend my going. You 
 will say that I may always have the sun: and so 
 it should be ; but we have many clouds which ob- 
 scure the sun from our weak eyes." — (Letters to Rev. 
 H. Bonar, Kelso.) 
 
 From the first he fed others by what he himself 
 was feeding upon. His preaching was in a manner 
 the development of his soul's experience. It was a 
 giving out of the inward life. He loved to come up 
 from the pastures wherein the chief Shepherd had 
 met liim — to lead the liock entrusted to his care to the 
 spots where he found nourishment. 
 
 In the field of his labour, he found enough of work 
 to overwhelm the spirit. The several collieries and 
 the Carron Iron- works furnish a population who are, 
 for the most part, either sunk in deep inditierence to 
 the truth, or are opposed to it in the spirit of infideli- 
 ty. Mr. McCheyne at once saw that the pastor whom 
 he had come to aid, whatever was the measure of his 
 health and zeal, and perseverance, had duties laid on 
 him which were altogether beyond the power of man 
 to overtake. When he had made a few weeks' trial, 
 the field appeared more boundless, and the mass of 
 souls more impenetrable, than he had ever conceived. 
 
 It was probably, in some degree, his experience at 
 this time, that gave him such deep sympathy with the 
 Church Extension Scheme, as a truly noble and Chris- 
 tian eifort for bringing the glad tidings to the doors 
 of a population, who must otherwise remain neglected, 
 and were themselves wilhng so to live and die. He 
 conveyed his impressions on this subject to a friend 
 abroad, in the following terms: — "There is a soul- 
 destroying cruelty in the cold-hearted opposition which 
 
42 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 is made to the multiplication of ministers in such ne- 
 glected and over-2:rown districts as these. If one of 
 our Royal Commissioners would but consent to under- 
 go the bodily fatigue that a minister ought to under- 
 go in visiting merely the sick and dying of Larbert, 
 (let alone the visitation of the whole, and preparation 
 for the pulpit,) and that for one month, I would 
 engage that if he be able to rise out of his bed by the 
 end of it, he would change his voice and manner at 
 the Commission Board." 
 
 A few busy weeks passed over, occupied from 
 morning to night in such cares and toils, when an- 
 other part of the discipline he was to undergo was 
 sent. In the end of December, strong oppression of 
 the heart and an irritating cough caused some of his 
 friends to fear that liis lungs were affected; and for 
 some weeks he was laid aside from public duty. On 
 examination, it was found that though there was a 
 dulness in the right lung, yet the material of the lungs 
 was not affected. For a time, however, the air- 
 vessels were so clogged and irritated, that if he had 
 continued to preach, disease would have quickly en- 
 sued. But this also was soon removed, and, under 
 cautious management, he resumed his work. 
 
 This temporary iUness served to call forth the 
 extreme sensitiveness of his soul to the responsibili- 
 ties of his office. At its commencement — having gone 
 to Edinburgh "in so sweet a sunshine mornini? that 
 God seemed to have chosen it for him" — he wrote 
 to Mr. Bonar — " If I am not recovered before the 
 third Sabbath, I fear I shall not be able to bear upon 
 my conscience the responsibility of leaving you any 
 longer to labour alone, bearing unaided the burden of 
 six thousand souls. No, my dear sir, I must read 
 the will of God aright in his providence, and give 
 way, when he bids me, to fresh and abler workmen. 
 I hope and pray that it may be his will to restore me 
 again to you and your parisli, with a heart tutored 
 by sickness to speak more and more as dying to 
 dying." Then, mentioning two of the sick — '• Poor 
 A. D. and C. H., I often think of them. I can do no 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 43 
 
 more for their good, except pray for them. Tell them 
 that I do this without ceasing." 
 
 The days when a holy pastor, who knows the 
 blood-sprinkled way to the Father, is laid aside, are 
 probably as much a proof of the kindness of God to 
 his flock as days of health and activity. He is occu- 
 pied, during this season of retirement, in discovering 
 the plagues of his heart, and in going in, like Moses, 
 to plead with God face to face for his flock, and for 
 his own soul. IVIr. McCheyne believed that God had 
 this end in view with him ; and that the Lord should 
 thus deal with him at his entrance into the vine- 
 yard made him ponder these dealings the more. 
 "Paul asked," says he, "What wilt thou have me 
 to do .^" and it was answered, " I will show him what 
 great things he must suffer for my name's sake." 
 Thus it may be with me. I have been too anxious 
 to do great things. The lust of praise has ever been 
 my besetting sin ; and what more befitting school 
 could be found for me than that of suftering alone, 
 away from the eye and ear of man ?" Writing again 
 to Mr. Bonar, he tells him : " I feel distinctly that 
 the whole of my labour during this season of sickness 
 and pain, should be in the way of prayer and inter- 
 cession. And yet, so sti'ongly does Satan work in 
 our deceitful hearts, I scarcely remember a season 
 wherein I have been more averse to these duties. 
 I try to build myself up in my most holy faitli, pray- 
 ing in the Holy Ghost, keeping myself in the love of 
 God, and looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus 
 unto eternal life. That text of Jude has peculiar 
 beauties for me at this season. If it be good to come 
 under the love of God once, surely it is good to keep 
 ourselves there. And yet how rekictant we are! I 
 cannot doubt that boldness is ofiered me to enter 
 into the holiest of all ; I cannot doubt my right and 
 title to enter continually by the new and living way; 
 I cannot doubt that when I do enter in, I stand not 
 only forgiven, but accepted in the Beloved ; I cannot 
 doubt that when I do enter in, the Spirit is willing 
 and ready to descend like a dove, to dwell in my 
 
44 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 bosom as a Spirit of prayer and peace, enabling me 
 to ^pray in the Holy Ghost;' and that Jesus is ready 
 to rise up as my intercessor with the Father, praying 
 for me, thougli not for the world; and that the prayer- 
 hearing God is ready to bend his ear to requests 
 which he delights to hear and answer. I cannot 
 doubt that thus to dwell in God is the true blessed- 
 ness of my nature ; and yet, strange, unaccountable 
 creature ! I am too often unwilling to enter in. I go 
 about and about the sanctuary, and I sometimes 
 press in through the rent veil, and see the blessedness 
 of dwelling there to be far better than that in the 
 tents of wickedness ; yet it is certain that I do not 
 dwell within.'' — "My prayers follow you, especially 
 to the sick-beds of A. D. and C. H. I hope they 
 still survive, and that Christ may yet be glorified in 
 them." 
 
 On resuming his labours, he found a residence in 
 Carronvale. From this pleasant spot he used to ride 
 out to his work. But pleasant as the spot was, yet 
 being only partially recovered, he was not satisfied; 
 he lamented that he was unable to overtake what a 
 stronger labourer would have accomplished. He often 
 cast a regretful look at the collieries; and remember- 
 ing them still at a later period, he reproached himself 
 with neglect, though most unjustly. "The places 
 which I let\ utterly unbroken in upon are Kinnaird 
 and INIilton. Both of these rise up against my con- 
 science, particularly the last, through which I have 
 ridden so often." It was not the comfort, but the 
 positive usefulness of the ministry, that he envied ; 
 and he judged of places by their fitness to promote 
 tliis great end. He said of a neighbouring parish, 
 which he had occasion to visit — " The manse is alto- 
 gether too sweet ; other men could hardly live there 
 without saying, ' Tliis is my rest.' I don't think 
 ministers' manses should ever be so beautiful." 
 
 A simple incident was overruled to promote the 
 ease and fluency of his pulpit ministrations. From 
 the very beginning of his ministry, he reprobated the 
 custom of reading sermons, believing that to do so 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 45 
 
 does exceedingly weaken the freedom and natural 
 fervour of the messenger in delivering his message. 
 Neither did he recite what he had written. But his 
 custom was to impress on his memory the substance 
 of what he had beforehand carefully written, and 
 then to speak as he found liberty. One morning, as 
 he rode rapidly along to Dunipace, his written ser- 
 mons were dropped on the wayside. This accident 
 prevented him having the opportunity of preparing 
 in his usual manner ; but he was enabled to preach 
 with more than usual freedom. For the first time in 
 his life, he discovered that he possessed the gift of 
 extemporaneous composition, and learned, to his own 
 surprise, that he had more composedness of mind and 
 commaand of language than he had believed. This 
 discovery, however, did not in the least degree dimin- 
 ish his diligent preparation. Indeed, the only use 
 that he made of the incident at the time it occurred 
 was, to draw a lesson of dependence on God's own 
 immediate blessing, rather than on the satisfactory 
 preparation made. '^ One thing always fills the cup 
 of my consolation, that God may work by the meanest 
 and poorest words, as well as by the most polished 
 and ornate — yea perhaps more readily, that the glory 
 may be all his own.'' 
 
 His hands were again full, distributing the bread of 
 life in fellowship with Mr. Bonar. The progress of 
 his own soul, meanwhile, may be traced in some of 
 the few entries that oc^ur in his diary during this 
 period. 
 
 "February 21, 1836.— Sabbath. — Blessed be the 
 Lord for another day of the Son of IMan. Resumed 
 my diary, long broken off; not because I do not feel 
 the disadvantages of it — making you assume feelings 
 and express rather what you wish to be than what 
 you are — but because the advantages seem greater. 
 It insures sober reflection on the events of the day 
 as seen in God's eye. Preached twice in Larbert, 
 on the righteousness of God, Rom. i. 16. In the 
 morning was more engaged in preparing the head 
 than the heart. This has been frequently my error, 
 
46 ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 and I have always felt the evil of it, especially in 
 prayer. Reform it, then, Lord/' 
 
 " Feb. 27. — Preached in Dunipace with more heart 
 than ever I remember to have done, on Rom. v. 10, 
 owing to the gospel-nature of the subject and prayer- 
 ful preparation. Audience smaller than usual ! How 
 happy and strange is the feeling when God gives the 
 soul composure to stand and plead for him. that it 
 were altogether for him I plead, not for myself 
 
 " March 5. — Preached in Larbert with very much 
 comfort, owing chiefly to my remedying the error of 
 21st Feb. Therefore the heart and the mouth were 
 full. ' Enlarge my heart, and I shall run,' said David. 
 ' Enlarge my heart, and I shall preach.' " 
 
 In this last remark we see the germ of his remark- 
 ably solemn ministry. His heart was filled, and his 
 hps then spoke what he felt withui his heart. He 
 gave out not merely living water, but living water 
 drawn at the springs that he had himself drunk of; 
 and is not this a true gospel ministry ? Some venture 
 to try what they consider a more intellectual method 
 of addressing the conscience ; but ere a minister at- 
 tempts this mode, he ought to see that he is one who 
 is able to afford more deep and anxious preparation of 
 heart than other men. Such intellectual men must 
 bestow tenfold more prayerfulness on their work, if 
 the}^ would have either their own or their people's 
 souls aflected under their word. If we are ever to 
 preach with compassion for the perishing, we must be 
 moved ourselves by those same views of sin and 
 righteousness which moved the human soul of Jesus. 
 
 About this time he occasionally contributed papers 
 to the Christian Herald: one of these was on sudden 
 Conversions, showing that Scripture led us to expect 
 such. During this month, he seems to have written 
 the '- Lines on Mungo Parh^^ one of the pieces which 
 attracted the notice of Professor Wilson. But what- 
 ever he engaged in, his aim was to honour his Master. 
 I find him, after hearing sermon by another, remark- 
 ing [Jlpril o^), "Some things powerful; but I thirst 
 to hear more of Christ." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 47 
 
 On Sabbath 16, he writes, " Preached with some 
 tenderness of heart. why should I not weep, as 
 Jesus did over Jerusalem ? Evening — Instructing 
 two dehghtful Sabbath-schools. Much bodily weari- 
 ness. Gracious kindness of God in giving rest to the 
 weary." 
 
 "April 13.— Went to Stirling to hear Dr. Duff 
 once more upon his system. With greater warmth 
 and energy than ever. He kindles as he goes. Felt 
 almost constrained to go the whole length of his 
 system with him. If it were only to raise up an 
 audience, it would be defensible ; but when it is to 
 raise up teachers, it is more than defensible. I am 
 now made willing, if God shall open the way, to go 
 to India. Here am I ; send me !" 
 
 The missionary feeling in his soul continued all his 
 life. The Lord had really made him willing; and 
 this preparedness to go anywhere completed liis 
 preparation for unselfish, self-denied work at home. 
 jNIust there not be somewhat of this missionary ten- 
 dency in all true ministers ? Is any one truly the 
 Lord's messenger who is not quite willing to go when 
 and where the Lord calls ? Is it justifiable in any to 
 put aside a call from the north, on the ground that 
 he wishes one from the south ? We must be found 
 in the position of Isaiah, if we are to be really sent 
 of God. 
 
 "April 24. — that this day's labour may be 
 blessed ! and not mine alone, but all thy faithful ser- 
 vants all over the world, till the Sabbath come." 
 
 "April 26. — Visiting in Carron-shore, Well re- 
 ceived everywhere. Truly a pleasant labour. Cheer- 
 ed me much. Preached to them afterwards from 
 Proverbs i." 
 
 " May 8. — Communion in Larbert. Served as an 
 elder and help to the faithful. Partook with some 
 glimpses of faith and joy. Served by a faithful old 
 minister (Mr. Dempster of Denny), one taught of 
 God. This morning stood by the dying — evening, 
 stood by the dead, poor J. F. having died last night. 
 I laid my hand on her cold forehead, and tried to shut 
 
48 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 her eyes. Lord, give me strength for Uving to thee ! 
 — strength also for a dying hour." 
 
 ^^ May 15. — This day an annular eclipse of the 
 sun. Kept both the services together, in order to be 
 in time. Truly a beautiful sight to see the shining 
 edge of the sun all round the dark disc of the moon. 
 Lord, ouQ day thy hand shall put out those candles; 
 for there shall be no need of the sun to lighten the 
 happy land ; the Lamb is the light thereof — a sun 
 that cannot be eclipsed — that cannot go down." 
 
 *' May 17. — Visited thirteen families, and addressed 
 them all in the evening in the school, on Jeremiah 
 1. 4, ' going and weeping.' Experienced some en- 
 largement of soul ; said some plain things ; and had 
 some desire for their salvation, that God might be 
 praised." 
 
 '^ May 21. — Preparation for the Sabbath. ^Nly 
 birth-day. I have lived twenty-three years. Blessed 
 be my rock. Tliough I am a child in knowledge of 
 my Bible and of Thee, yet use me for what a child 
 can do, or a child can suffer. How few sufferings I 
 have had in the year that is past, except in my own 
 body. Oh ! that as my day is, my strength may be. 
 Give me strength for a suffering, and for a dying 
 hour !" 
 
 '^ May 22. — Lord, when thou workest, all dis- 
 couragements vanish — when thou art away, any thing 
 is a discouragement. Blessed be God for such a day 
 — one of a thousand! why not always thus? 
 Watch and pray." 
 
 Being in Edinburgh this month, during the sitting 
 of the General Assembly, he used the opportunity of 
 revisiting some of his former charge in the Canongate. 
 ''J. S., a far-off inquirer, but surely God is leading. 
 His hand draws out these tears. Interesting visits to 
 L.; near death, and still in the same mind. I cannot 
 but hope that some faith is here. Saw INIrs. ]NL : 
 many tears; felt much, though 1 am still doubtful, 
 and in the dark. Thou knowest. Lord!" 
 
 June 11. — Yesterday up in Dunipace. It would 
 seem as if I were afraid to name the name of Christ. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 49 
 
 Saw many worldly people greatly needing a word in 
 season, yet could not get my heart up to speak. What 
 I did failed almost completely. I am not worthy, 
 Lord ! To-day sought to prepare my heart for the 
 coming Sabbath. After the example of Boston, whose 
 Ufe I have been reading, examined my heart with 
 prayer and fasting. 1. Does my heart really close 
 with the offer of salvation by Jesus? Is it my choice 
 to be saved in the way which gives him all the praise, 
 and me none? Do I not only see it to be the Bible 
 way of salvation, but does it cordially approve itself 
 to my heart as delightful? Lord, search me and try 
 me, for I cannot but answer, Yes, yes. 2. Is it the 
 desire of my heart to be made altogether holy? Is 
 there any sin I wish to retain? Is sin a grief to me, 
 the sudden risings and overcomings thereof especially? 
 Lord, thou knowest all things — thou knowest that I 
 hate all sin, and desire to be made altogether like thee. 
 It is the sweetest word in the Bible — ' Sin shall not 
 have dominion over you.' then that I might lie 
 low in the dust— the lower the better — that Jesus' 
 righteousness and Jesus' strength alone be admired. 
 Felt much deadness, and much grief that I cannot 
 grieve for this deadness. Towards evening revived. 
 Got a calm spirit through psalmody and prayer." 
 
 " June 12, Sabbath. — To-day a sinner preached 
 Jesus, the same Jesus who has done all things for 
 him, and that so lately ! A day of much help, of some 
 earnest looking-up of the heart to that alone quicken- 
 ing power, of much temptation to flattery and pride. 
 for breathing gales of spiritual life! Evening — 
 Somewhat helped to lay Jesus before little children 
 in his beauty and excellency. Much fatigue, yet some 
 peace. Surely a day in thy courts is better than a 
 thousand." 
 
 " 3Ia7/ 15. — Day of visiting — rather a happy one — 
 in Carron-shore. Large meeting in the evening. Felt 
 very happy after it, though mourning for bitter speak- 
 ing' of the gospel. Surely it is a gentle message, and 
 should be spoken with angelic tenderness, especially 
 by such a needy sinner." 
 
 5 
 
50 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Of this bitterness in preacliing, he had little indeed 
 in after days; yet so sensible was he of its being quite 
 natural to all of us, that oftentimes he made it the 
 subject of conversation, and used to grieve over him- 
 self if he had spoken with any thing less than solemn 
 compassion. I remember on one occasion, when we 
 met, lie asked me what my last Sabbath's subject had 
 been. It had been, " The wicked shall be turned into 
 hell.'' On hearing tliis awful text, he asked, ''Were 
 you able to preach it icith tenderness .?" Certain it 
 is that the tone of reproach and upbraiding is widely 
 different from the voice of solemn warning. It is not 
 saying hard things that pierces the consciences of our 
 people; it is the voice of divine love heard amid the 
 thunder. The sharpest point of the two-edged sword 
 is not deaths but life; and against self-righteous souls 
 this latter ought to be more used than the former. 
 For such souls can hear us tell of the open gates of 
 hell and the unquenchable fire far more unconcernedly 
 than of the gates of heaven wide open for their imme- 
 diate return. When we preach that the glad tidings 
 were intended to impart imtnediate assurance of 
 eternal life to every sinner that believes them, we 
 strike deeper upon the proud enmity of the world to 
 God, than when we show the eternal curse and the 
 second death. 
 
 '^ June 1 9, Sabbath. — Wet morning. Preached at 
 Dunipace to a small audience, on the parable of the 
 
 tares. I thank God for that blessed parable. In 
 
 both discourses I can look back on many hateful 
 thoughts of pride, and self-admiration, and love of 
 praise, stealing the heart out of the service." 
 
 '^ June 22. — Carron-shore. My last. Some tears; 
 yet I fear some like the messenger, not the message; 
 and I fear I am so vain as to love that love. Lord, 
 let it not be so. Perish my honour, but let Thine be 
 exalted for ever. 
 
 ''Ju)ie26. — True Sabbath-day. Golden sky. Full 
 church, and more liveliness than sometimes. Shall I 
 call the liveliness of this day a gale of the Spirit, or 
 was all natural? I know that all was not of grace: 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 51 
 
 the self-admiration, the vanity, the desire of honour, 
 the bitterness — these were all breaths of earth or hell. 
 But was there no grace? Lord, thou knowest. I 
 dare not wrong thee by saying — No ! Larbert Sab- 
 bath-school, with the same liveliness and joy. Do- 
 mestic work with the same. Praised be God! 
 that the savour of it may last through the week ! By 
 this may I test if it be all of nature, or much of grace. 
 Alas! how I tremble for my Monday mornings — those 
 seasons of lifelessness. Lord, bless the seeds sown 
 this day in the hearts of my friends, by the hand of 
 my friends, and all over the world, — hasten the har- 
 vest!'' 
 
 "«/^«/?/ 3. — After a week of working and hurried 
 preparation, a Sabbath of mingled peace and pain. 
 Called, morning before preaching, to see Mrs. E. 
 dying. — Preached on the jailor — discomposedly — with 
 some glimpses of the genuine truth as it is in Jesus. 
 Felt there was much mingling of experience. At 
 times the congregation was lightened up from their 
 dull flatness, and then they sunk again into lethargy. 
 Lord, make me hang on thee to open their hearts, 
 thou opener of Lydia's heart. I fear thou wilt not 
 bless my preaching, until I am brought thus to hang 
 on thee. keep not back a blessing, for my sin! 
 Afternoon — On the Highway of the Redeemed, with 
 more ease and comfort. Felt the truth sometimes 
 boiling up from my heart into my words. Some 
 glimpses of tenderness, yet much less of that spirit 
 than the last two Sabbaths. Again saw the dying 
 woman. when will I plead, with my tears and 
 inward yearnings, over sinners! compassionate 
 Lord, give me to know what manner of spirit I am 
 of! give me thy gentle spirit, that neither strives nor 
 cries. Much weariness, want of prayerfulness, and 
 want of cleaving to Christ.'' Tuesday the 5th, being 
 the anniversary of his license to preach the gospel, he 
 writes : — " Eventful week ! One year I have preached 
 Jesus, have I? or myself? I have often preached 
 myself also, but Jesus I have preached." 
 
52 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 About this time he again feU the hand of affliction, 
 though it did not continue long. Yet it was plain to 
 him now that personal trouble was to be one of the 
 ingredients of that experience which helped to give a 
 peculiar tone to his ministry. '^ July 8th. — Since 
 Tuesday have been laid up with illness. Set by once 
 more for a season to feel my unprofitableness and 
 cure my pride. When shall this self-choosing temper 
 be healed? 'Lord, I will preach, run, visit, wrestle,' 
 said I. ' No, thou shalt lie in thy bed and suffer,' 
 said the Lord. To-day missed some fine opportuni- 
 ties of speaking a word for Christ. The Lord saw I 
 would have spoken as much for my own honour as 
 his, and, therefore, shut my mouth. I see a man can- 
 not he a faithful miiiistei', until he preaches Christ 
 for Christ^ s sake — -until he gives up striving to attract 
 people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to 
 Christ. Lord, give me this! To-night some glimpses 
 of humbling; and, therefore, some wrestling in social 
 prayer. But my prayers are scarcely to be called 
 prayer." Then, in the evening, " This day my bro- 
 ther has been five years absent from the body and 
 present with the Lord, and knows more and loves 
 more than all earthly saints together. Till the day 
 break and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved !" 
 
 ^^ July 10th. — I fear I am growing more earthly in 
 some things. To-day I felt a difficulty in bringing in 
 spiritual conversation immediately after preaching, 
 when my bosom should be burning. Excused myself 
 from dining out from other than the grand reason; 
 though checked and corrected myself Evening — 
 Insensibly slid into worldly conversation. Let these 
 things be corrected in me, Lord, by the heart being 
 more filled with love to Jesus ; and more ejaculatory 
 prayer." 
 
 " 17th, Sabbath. — that I may remember my own 
 word this day: that the hour of communion is the 
 hour for the foxes — tlie little foxes — to spoil the vine. 
 Two things that defile this day in looking back, are 
 Jove of praise running through all, and consenting to 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 53 
 
 listen to worldly talk at all. that these may keep 
 me humble and be my burden, leading me to the 
 cross. Then, Satan, thou wilt be outwitted V 
 
 " 19th. — Died, this day, W. McCheyne, my cousin- 
 german. Relief minister, Kelso. how I repent of 
 our vain controversies on Establishments when we 
 last met, and that we spoke so little of Jesus. that 
 we had spoken more one to another. Lord, teach me 
 to be always speaking as dying to dying.'^ 
 
 "24th. — Dunipace Communion. — Heard Mr. Pur- 
 ves, of Jedburgh, preach, ' Therefore with joy shall 
 ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.' The 
 only way to come to ordinances, and to draw from 
 the well, is to come with the matter of acceptance 
 settled, believing God's anger to be turned away. 
 Truly a precious view of the freeness of the gospel 
 very refreshing. My soul needs to be roused much 
 to apprehend this truth.'' 
 
 Above {Juli/ 3), he spoke of "mingling experience 
 with the genuine truth as it is in Jesus." It is to this 
 that he refers again, in the last paragraph. His deep 
 acquaintance with the human heart and passions often 
 led him to dwell at greater length, not only on those 
 topics whereby the sinner might be brought to disco- 
 ver his guilt, but also on marks that would evidence 
 a change, than on " the Glad Tidings." And yet he 
 ever felt that these blessed tidings, addressed to souls 
 in the very gall of bitterness, were the true theme of 
 the minister of Christ ; and never did he preach other 
 than a full salvation ready for the chief of sinners. 
 From the very first, also, he carefully avoided the 
 error of those who rather speculate or doctrinize about 
 the gospel, than preach the gospel itself Is not the 
 true idea of preaching simply that of one, like Ahi- 
 maaz, coming with all-important tidings, and intent 
 on making these tidings known ? Occupied with the 
 facts he has to tell, he has no heart to speculate on 
 mere abstractions ; nay, he is apt to forget what lan- 
 guage he employs, excepting so far as the very 
 grandeur of the tidings gives a glow of eloquence to 
 
 5* 
 
54 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 liis words. The glorious fact, " By this man is 
 preached unto you the forgiveness of sins,"*^ is the 
 burden of every sermon. The crier is sent to the 
 openings of the gate by his Lord — to herald forth this 
 one infinitely important truth through the whole crea- 
 tion under heaven. 
 
 He seems invariably to have applied for his personal 
 benefit w^hat he gave out to his people. We have 
 already noticed how he used to feed on the Word, not 
 in order to prepare himself for his people, but for 
 personal edification. To do so was a fundamental 
 rule with him; and all pastors will feel that, if they 
 are to prosper in their own souls, they must so use the 
 word — sternly refusing to admit the idea of feeding 
 others, until satiated themselves. And for similar ends, 
 it is needful that we let the truth we have preached 
 sink down into our own souls. We, as well as our peo- 
 ple, must drink in the falhng shower. Mr. McCheyne 
 did so. It is common to find him speaking thus : — 
 ^' July 31, Sabbath. — Afternoon, on Judas betraying 
 Christ ; much more tenderness than ever I felt before. 
 that I might abide in the bosom of him who washed 
 Judas' feet, and dipped his hand in the same dish with 
 him, and warned him, and grieved over him — that I 
 might catch the infection of his love, of his tenderness, 
 so wonderful, so unfathomable." 
 
 Coming home on a Sabbath evening {*^ug. 7th) 
 from Torwood Sabbath-school, a person met him who 
 suggested an opportunity of usefulness. There were 
 two families of gypsies encamped in Torwood, within 
 his reach. He was weary with a long day's labour ; 
 but instantly, as was his custom at such a call, set off 
 to find them. By the side of their wood-fire, he 
 opened out the parable of the Lost Sheep, and pressed 
 it on their souls in simple terms. He then knelt down 
 in prayer for them, and left them somewhat impressed 
 and very grateful. 
 
 At this time a youthful parishioner, for whose soul 
 he felt much anxiety, left his father's roof Ever 
 watchful for souls, he seized this opportunity of lay- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 5S 
 
 ing before him more fully the things belonging to his 
 peace. 
 
 " Larbert, August 8, 1836. 
 
 " My dear G , You will be surprised to hear 
 
 from me. I have often wished to be better acquainted 
 with you; but in these sad parishes we cannot manage 
 to know and be intimate with every one we would 
 desire. And now you have left your father's roof and 
 our charge ; still my desires go after you, as well as 
 the kind thoughts of many others ; and since I cannot 
 now speak to you, I take this way of expressing my 
 thoughts to you. I do not know in what light you 
 look upon me, whether as a grave and morose minis- 
 ter, or as one who miglit be a companion and friend ; 
 but, really, it is so short a while since I was just like 
 you, when I enjoyed the games which you now 
 enjoy, and read the books which you now read, that 
 I never can think of myself as anything more than a 
 boy. This is one great reason why I write to you. 
 The same youthful blood flows in my veins that flows 
 in yours — the same fancies and buoyant passions 
 dance in my bosom as in yours — so that, when I 
 would persuade you to come with me to the same 
 Saviour, and to walk the rest of your life ' led by the 
 Spirit of God,' I am not persuading you to anything 
 beyond your years. I am not like a greyheaded 
 grandfatlier — then you might answer all I say by tell- 
 ing me that you are a boy. No ; I am almost as 
 much a boy as you are ; as fond of happiness and of 
 life as you are ; as fond of scampering over the hills, 
 and seeing all that is to be seen, as you are. 
 
 "Another thing that persuades me to write you, my 
 dear boy, is, that I have felt in my own experience 
 the want of having a friend to direct and counsel me. 
 I had a kind brother as you have, Avho taught me 
 many things: he gave me a Bible, and persuaded me 
 to read it ; he tried to train me as the gardener trains 
 the apple-tree upon the wall, but all in vain. I 
 thought myself far wiser than he, and would always 
 take my own way; and many a time, I well remem- 
 ber, I have seen him reading his Bible, or shutting 
 
56 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 his closet-door to pray, when I have been dressing to 
 go to some froUc, or some dance of folly. Well, this 
 dear friend and brother died; and although his death 
 made a greater impression upon me than ever his life 
 had done, still I found the misery of being f?'iendless. 
 I do not mean that I had no relations and worldly 
 friends, for I had many; but I had no friend who 
 cared for my soul. I had none to direct me to the 
 Savionr — none to awaken my slumbering conscience 
 — none to tell me about the blood of Jesus washing 
 away all sin — none to tell me of the Spirit who is so 
 willing to change the heart, and give the victory over 
 passions. I had no minister to take me by the hand, 
 and say, ' Come with me, and we will do thee good.' 
 Yes, I had one friend and minister, but that was Jesus 
 himself, and he led me in a way that makes me give 
 him, and him only, all the praise. Now, though 
 Jesus may do this again, yet the more common way 
 with him is to use earthly guides. Now, if I could 
 supply the place of such a guide to you, I should be 
 happy. To be a finger-post is all that I want to be — 
 pointing out the way. This is what I so much 
 wanted myself — this is what you need not want, 
 unless you wish. 
 
 *' Tell me, dear G., would you work less pleasantly 
 through the day — would you walk the streets with 
 a more doleful step — would you eat your meat with 
 less gladness of heart — would you sleep less tran- 
 quilly at night, if you had the forgiveness of sins — 
 that is, if all your wicked thoughts and deeds — lies, 
 thefts, and Sabbath-breakings — were all blotted out 
 of God's book of remembrance? Would this make 
 you less happy, do you think? You dare not say it 
 would. But would the forgiveness of sins not make 
 you more happy than you are? Perhaps you will tell 
 me that you are very happy as you are. I quite be- 
 lieve you. 1 know that 1 was very happy when I 
 was unforgiven. I know that I had great pleasure in 
 many sins — in Sabbath-breaking for instance. Many 
 a delightful walk I have had — speaking my own 
 words, thinking my own thoughts, and seeking my 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 57 
 
 own pleasure on God's holy day. I fancy few boys 
 were ever happier in an unconverted state than I was. 
 No sorrow clouded my brow — no tears filled my eyes, 
 unless over some nice story-book; so that I know that 
 you say quite true, when you say that you are happy 
 as you are. But ah! is not this just the saddest thing 
 of all, that you should be happy whilst you are a 
 child of wrath — that you should smile, and eat, and 
 drink, and be merry, and sleep sound, when this very 
 night you may be in hell. Happy while unforgiven ! — 
 a terrible happiness. It is like the Hindoo widow who 
 sits upon the funeral pile with her dead husband, and 
 sings songs of joy when they are setting fire to the 
 wood with which she is to be burned. Yes, vou mav 
 be quite happy in this way, till you die, my boy; but 
 when you look back from hell, you will say, it was a 
 miserable kind of happiness. Now, do you think it 
 would not give you more happiness to be forgiven — 
 to be able to put on Jesus, and say, * God's anger is 
 turned away? Would not you be happier at work, 
 and happier in the house, and happier in your bed? 
 I can assure you, from all that ever I have felt of it, 
 the pleasures of being forgiven are as superior to the 
 pleasures of an unforgiven man, as heaven is higher 
 than hell. The peace of being forgiven reminds me 
 of the calm, bine skv, which no earthly clamours can 
 disturb. It lightens all labour, sweetens every morsel 
 of bread, and makes a sick bed all soft and downy — 
 yea, it takes away the scowl of death. Now, forgive- 
 ness may be yours now. It is not given to those who 
 are good. It is not given to any because they are less 
 wicked than others. It is given only to those who, 
 feeling that their sins have brought a curse on them 
 which they cannot lift off, ^look unto Jesus,' as bear- 
 ing all away. 
 
 " Now, my dear boy, I have no wish to weary you. 
 If you are anything like what I was, you will have 
 yawned many a time already over this letter. How- 
 ever, if the Lord deal graciously with you, and touch 
 your young heart, as I pray he may, with a desire to 
 be forgiven, and to be made a child of God, perhaps 
 
58 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 you will not take ill what I have written to you in 
 much haste. As this is the first time you have been 
 away from home, perhaps you have not learned to 
 write letters yet ; but if you have, I would like to 
 hear from you, how you come on — what convictions 
 you feel, if you feel any — what difficulties — what parts 
 of the Bible puzzle you; and then I would do my best 
 to unravel them. You read your Bible regularly, of 
 course; but do try to understand it, and still more, to 
 feel it. Read more parts than one at a time. For 
 example, if you are reading Genesis, read a Psalm 
 also; or, if you are reading Matthew, read a small bit 
 of an epistle also. Turn the Bible into prayer. 
 Thus, if you were reading the first Psalm, spread the 
 Bible on the chair before you, and kneel and pray, 
 ' Lord, give me the blessedness of the man,' &c. 
 'Let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly,' &c. 
 This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the 
 Bible, and of learning to pray. In prayer confess your 
 sins by name — going over those of the past day one 
 by one. Pray for your friends by name — father, 
 mother, &c., &c. If you love them, surely you will 
 pray for their souls. I know well that there are pray- 
 ers constantly ascending for you from your own house ; 
 and will you not pray for them back again ? Do this 
 regularly. If you pray sincerely for others, it will 
 make you pray for yourself. 
 
 ^' But I must be done. Good bye, dear G. Re- 
 member me to your brother kindly, and believe me 
 your sincere friend, R. M. M." 
 
 It is the shepherd's duty (Ezek. xxxiv. 4,) in visit- 
 ing his flock, to discriminate; "strengthening the dis- 
 eased, healing that which was sick, binding up that 
 which was broken, bringing again that which was 
 driven away, seeking that which was lost." This Mr. 
 McCheyne tried to do. In an after-letter to Mr. So- 
 merville, of Anderston, in reference to the people of 
 these parishes, whom he had had means of knowing, 
 he wrote, "Take more heed to the saints than ever I 
 did. Speak a word in season to S. M. S. H. will 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 59 
 
 drink in simple truth, but tell him to be humble-mind- 
 ed. Cause L. H. to learn in silence; speak not of 
 religion to her, but speak to her case always. Teach 
 A. M. to look simply at Jesus. J. A. warn and teach. 
 Get worldiiness from the B.'s, if you can. JVIrs. G. 
 awake, or keep awake. Speak faithfully to the B.'s. 
 Tell me of M. C, if she is really a believer, and 
 grows? A. K., has the light visited her? M. T. I 
 have had some doubts of M. G. lies sore upon my 
 conscience; I did no good to that woman; she always 
 managed to speak of things about the truth. Speak 
 boldly. What matter in eternity the slight awkward- 
 nesses of time?'' 
 
 It Avas about this time that the managers and con- 
 gregation of the new church, St. Peter's, Dundee, 
 invited him to preach as one of the candidates; and, 
 in the end of August, chose him to be their pastor, 
 with one accord. He accepted the call under an awful 
 sense of the work that lay before him. He would 
 rather, he said, have made choice for himself of such 
 a rural parish as Dunipace; but the Lord seemed to 
 desire it otherwise. " His ways are in the sea." More 
 than once, at a later period, he would sa}^, ^'We might 
 have thought that God would have sent a strong man 
 to such a parish as mine, and not a feeble reed." 
 
 The first day he preached in St. Peter's as a candi- 
 date {^August 14th,) is thus recorded: "Forenoon- 
 Mind not altogether in a preaching frame; on the 
 Sower. Afternoon — With more encouragement and 
 help of the Spirit; on the Voice of the beloved in 
 Cant. ii. S-17. In the evening — With all my heart; 
 on Ruth. Lord, keep me humble." Returning from 
 St. Peter's, the second time, he observed in his class 
 of girls at Dunipace more than usual anxiety. One 
 of them seemed to be thoroughly awakened that even- 
 ing. '•' Thanks be to thee. Lord, for anything," he 
 writes that evening; for as yet he had sown without 
 seeing fruit. It seems to have been part of the Lord's 
 dealing with him, thus to teach him to persevere in 
 duty and in faith, even where there was no obvious 
 success. The arrow that was yet to wound hundreds 
 
60 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 was then receiving its point; but it lay in the quiver 
 for a time. The Lord seemed to be touching his own 
 heart and melting it by what he spoke to others, 
 rather than touching or melting the hearts of those he 
 spoke to. But from the day of his preaching hi 
 St. Peter's, tokens of success began. His first day 
 there, especially the evening sermon on Ruth, was 
 blessed to two souls in Dundee; and now he sees 
 souls begin to melt under his last words in the parish 
 where he thought he had hitherto spent his strength 
 in vain. 
 
 As he was now to leave this sphere, he sought out 
 with deep anxiety a labourer who would help their 
 overburdened pastor, in true love to the people's souls. 
 He believed he had found such a labourer in JNIr. 
 Somerville, his friend who had shared his every 
 thought and feeling in former days, and who, with a 
 sharp sickle in his hand, was now advancing toward 
 the harvest field. '•' I see plainly," he wrote to Mr. 
 Bonar, '• that my poor attempts at labour in your dear 
 parish will soon be eclipsed. But if at length the iron 
 fi'ont of unbelief give way, if the hard faces become 
 furrowed with the tears of anxiety and of faith, under 
 whatever ministry, you will rejoice, and I will rejoice, 
 and tiie angels, and the Father and God of angels will 
 rejoice." It was in this spirit that he closed his short 
 ten months of labour in this region. 
 
 His last sermons to the people of Larbert and Duni- 
 pace were on Hosea xiv. 1, " Israel, return unto 
 the Lord thy God ;" and Jeremiah viii. 20, " Harvest 
 is past." In the evening he writes, " Lord, I feel 
 bowed down because of the little I have done for 
 them which thou mightest have blessed ! My bowels 
 yearn over them, and all the more that I have done 
 so little. Indeed I might have done ten times as 
 much as I have done. I might have been in every 
 house ; I might have spoken always as a minister. 
 Lord, canst thou bless partial, unequal elforts ?" 
 
 I believe it was about this time that some of us, 
 first of all, began our custom of praying specially for 
 each other on Saturday evening, with a reference to 
 
REV. R. M. McGHEYXE. 61 
 
 our engagements in the ministry next day. This 
 concert for prayer we have never since seen cause to 
 discontinue. It has from time to time been widened 
 in its circle; and as yet his has been the only v^oice 
 that has been silenced of all that thus began to go in on 
 each other's behalf before the Lord. Mr. McCheyne 
 never failed to remember this time of prayer. ^' Lar- 
 bert and Dunipace are always on my heart, especially 
 on the Saturday evenings, when I pray for a glorious 
 Sabbath!" On one occasion, in Dundee, he was 
 asked if the accumulation of business in his parish 
 never led him to neglect the season of prayer on a 
 busy Saturday; his reply was, that he was not aware 
 that it ever did. " What would my people do, if I 
 were not to pray ?" 
 
 So steady was he in Sabbath preparations, from 
 the first day to the last time he was with them, that 
 though at prayer-meetings, or similar occasions, he 
 did not think it needful to have much laid up before 
 coming to address his people ; yet, anxious to give 
 them on the Sabbath what liad cost him somewhat, 
 he never without an urgent reason, went before them 
 without much previous meditation and prayer. His 
 principle on this subject was embodied in a remark 
 he made to some of us who were conversing on the 
 matter. Being asked his view of diligent preparation 
 for the pulpit, he replied — ^'Beaten oil — beaten oil 
 for the lamps of the sanctuary. ^^^- And yet his 
 prayerfulness was greater still. Indeed, he could 
 not neglect fellowship with God before entering the 
 congregation. He needed to be bathed in the love 
 of God. His ministry was so much a bringinsr out 
 of views that had first sanctified his own soul, that 
 the healthiness of his soul was absolutely needful to 
 the vigour and power of his ministrations. 
 
 During these ten months the Lord had done much 
 for him, but it was chiefly in the way of discipline 
 for a future ministry. He had been taught a minis- 
 ter's heart ; he had been tried in the furnace ; he had 
 
 * See Exodus xxvii. 20. 
 6 
 
G2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 tasted deep personal sorrow, little of which has been 
 recorded; he had felt the fiery darts of temptation; 
 he had been exercised in self-examination and in 
 much prayer; he had proved how flinty is the rock, 
 and had learned that in lifting the rod by which it 
 was to be smitten, success lay in Him alone who 
 enabled him to lift it up. And thus prepared of God 
 for the peculiar work that awaited him, he turned his 
 face towards Dundee, and took up his abode in the 
 spot where the Lord was so marvellously to visit him 
 in his ministry. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 FIRST YEARS OF LABOUR IN DUNDEE. 
 
 Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what man- 
 ner I have been with you at all seasons, serving- the Lord with all 
 humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations. — Acts 
 XX. 18, 19. 
 
 The day on which he was ordained pastor of a tlock. 
 was a day of much anxiety to his soul. He had jour- 
 neyed by Perth to spend the night preceding under 
 the roof of his kind friend Mr. Grierson, in the manse 
 of Errol. Next morning, ere he left the manse, three 
 passages of Scripture occupied his mind. 1. '• Thou 
 shalt keep him in j:terfect peace ivhose mind is stayed 
 071 thee ; because he ti^usteth in thee. ^^ Isaiah xxvi. 
 3. This verse was seasonable; for, as he sat medi- 
 tating on the solemn duties of the day. his heart trem- 
 bled. 2. '• Give thyself wholly to these things.''^ 1 
 Tim. iv. 15. May that word (he prayed) sink deep 
 into my heart. 3. " Here am /, send me.'^ Isaiah vi. 
 8. " To go or to stay — to be here till death, or to 
 visit foreign shores — whatsoever, wheresoever, when- 
 soever thou pleasest." He rose from his knees with 
 the prayer, " Lord, may thy grace come with the lay- 
 ing on of the hands of the Presbytery." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 63 
 
 He was ordained on November 24, 1836. The 
 service was conducted by Mr. Roxburgh of St. Jolin's, 
 through whose exertions the new church had been 
 erected, and who ever afterwards cherished the most 
 cordial friendship towards him. On the Sabbath fol- 
 lowing, he was introduced to his flock by Mr. John 
 Bonar of Larbert, with whom he had laboured as a 
 son in the Gospel. Himself preached in the afternoon 
 upon Isaiah Ixi. 1 — 3, '^ The Spirit of the Lord is 
 upon 7716,'' &c. — of which he writes, " May it be pro- 
 phetic of the object of my coming here!" And truly 
 it was so. That very sermon — -the first preached by 
 him as a pastor — was the means of awakening souls 
 as he afterwards learned; and ever onward the impres- 
 sions left by his words seemed to spread and deej)en 
 among his people. To keep up the remembrance of 
 this solemn day, he used in all the subsequent years 
 of his ministry to preach from this same text on the 
 anniversary of his ordination.* In the evening of 
 that day, Mr. Bonar again preached on " The times 
 ofrefreshingP " A noble sermon, showing the marks 
 of such times. Ah ! when shall we have them here } 
 Lord, bless this word, to help their coming! Put thy 
 blessing upon this day ! Felt given over to God, as 
 one bought with a price. ^^ 
 
 There was a rapid growth in his soul, perceptible 
 to all who knew him well, from this time. Even his 
 pulpit preparations, he used to say, became easier 
 from this date. He had earnestly sought that the day 
 of his ordination might be a time of new grace; he 
 expected it would be so; and there was a peculiar 
 work to be done by his hands, for which the Holy 
 Spirit did specially prepare him. 
 
 His diary does not contain much of his feelings 
 during his residence in Dundee. His incessant labours 
 left him little time, except what he scrupulously spent 
 in the direct exercises of devotion. But what we 
 have seen of his manner of study and self-examina- 
 
 * " The Acceptable Year of the Lord" was one of the anniversary 
 lectures preached, November, 1840. 
 
64 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 tion at Larbert, is sufficient to show in what a constant 
 state of cultivation his soul was kept; and his habits 
 in these respects continued with him to the last. Jere- 
 my Taylor recommends — '' If thou meanest to enlarge 
 thy religion, do it rather by enlarging thine ordinary 
 devotions than thy extraordinary." This advice de- 
 scribes very accurately the plan of spiritual life on 
 which Mr. McCheyne acted. He did occasionally set 
 apart seasons for special prayer and fasting, occupying 
 the time so set apart exclusively in devotion. But the 
 real secret of his soul's prosperity lay in the daily en- 
 largement of his heart in fellowship with his God. 
 And the river deepened as it flowed on to eternity ; 
 so that he at last reached that feature of a holy pas- 
 tor which Paul pointed out to Timothy, (1 Tim. iv. 
 15.) — " His profiting did appear to all." 
 
 In his own house every thing was fitted to make 
 you feel that the service of God was a cheerful ser- 
 vice, while he sought that every arrangement of the 
 family should bear upon eternity. His morning hours 
 were set apart for the nourishment of his own soul ; 
 not, however, with the view of laying up a stock of 
 grace for the rest of the day — for manna will corrupt 
 if laid by — but rather with the view of "giving the 
 eye the habit of looking upward all the day, and 
 drawing down gleams from the reconciled counte- 
 nance." He was sparing in the hours devoted to 
 sleep, and resolutely secured time for devotion before 
 breakflist, although often wearied and exhausted when 
 he laid himself to rest. " A soldier of the cross," was 
 his remark, " must endure hardness." Often he sang 
 a Psalm of praise, as soon as he arose, to stir up his 
 soul. Three chapters of the word was his usual 
 morning portion. This he thought little enough, for 
 he delighted exceedingly in the Scriptures: they 
 were better to him than thousands of gold or silver. 
 "When you write," said he to a friend, "tell me the 
 meaning of Scriptures." To another, in expressing 
 his value for the word, he said, " One gem from that 
 ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams." 
 
 His chief season of relaxation seemed to be break- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 65 
 
 fast-time. He would come down with a happy coun- 
 tenance and a full soul; and after the sweet season of 
 family prayer, forthwith commence forming plans for 
 the day. When he was well, nothing seemed to aiford 
 him such true delight as to have his hands full of 
 work. Indeed, it was often remarked that in him you 
 found — what you rarely meet with — a man of high 
 poetic imagination and deep devotion, Avho neverthe- 
 less was engaged unceasingly in the busiest and most 
 laborious activities of his office. 
 
 His friends could observe how much his soul was 
 engrossed durmg his times of study and devotion. If 
 interrupted on such occasions, though he never seemed 
 ruffled, yet there was a kind of gravity and silence 
 that implied — •' I wish to be alone." But he farther 
 aimed at enjoying God all the day. And referring 
 on one occasion to those blank hours which so often 
 are a believer's burden — hours during which the soul 
 is dry and barren — he observed, '•- They are proofs of 
 how little we are filled with the presence of God, liow 
 little we are branch-like in our faith.'' 
 
 This careful attention to the frame of his spirit did 
 not hinder his preparation for his people : on the con- 
 trary, it kept alive his deep conscientiousness, and 
 kept his warm compassion ever yearning. When 
 asked to observe a Saturday as a day of fasting and 
 prayer, along with some others who had a special ob- 
 ject in view, he replied — •'' Saturday is an awkward 
 day for ministers; for though I love to seek help from 
 on high, I love also diligently to set my tlioughts in 
 order for the Sabbath. I sometimes fear that you 
 fail in this latter duty.'-' 
 
 During his first years in Dundee, he often rode out 
 in an afternoon to the ruined church of Invergowrie, 
 to enjoy an hour's perfect solitude ; for he felt medi- 
 tation and prayer to be the very sinews of his work. 
 vSuch notices, also, as the following show liis syste- 
 matic pursuit of personal holiness : 
 
 " Ajjvil 9, 1837. — Evening. — A very pleasant quiet- 
 ness. Study of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Came 
 to a more intelligent view of the first six chapters 
 
66 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 than ever before. INIuch refreshed by John Newton; 
 instructed by Edwards. Help and freedom in prayer. 
 Lordj what a happy season is a Sabbatli evening ! 
 What will heaven be !" 
 
 ^^ Ajwil 16. — Sabbath Evening. — Much prayer and 
 peace. Reading the Bible only." 
 
 ^' Jujie 2. — Much peace and rest to-night. Much 
 broken under a sense of my exceeding wickedness, 
 which no eye can see but thine. JNIuch persuasion of 
 the sufficiency of Christ, and of the constancy of his 
 love. iiow sweet to work all day for God, and 
 then to lie down at night under his smiles." 
 
 '^ June 17, 1S3S. — At Dumbarney communion. 
 Much sin and coldness two days before. Lay low at 
 his feet ; found peace only in Jesus." 
 
 " September 25. — Spent last week at Blairgowrie; 
 I hope not in vain. Much sin, weakness, and useless- 
 ness : much delight in the word also, while opening 
 it np at family prayer. May God make the word 
 fire. Opened 1 Thessalonians, the whole; enriching 
 to my own mind. How true is Psalm i.; yet ob- 
 served in my heart a strange proneness to be en- 
 tangled with the affairs of this life; not strange be- 
 cause I am good, but because I have been so often 
 taught that bitterness is the end of it." 
 
 " Se^yt. 27. — Devoted chief part of Friday to fast- 
 ing. Humbled and refreshed." 
 
 " Se2)t. 30. — Sabbath — Very happy in my work. 
 Too little prayer in the morning. Must try to get 
 early to bed on Saturday, that I may 'rise a great 
 while before day.' " These early hours of prayer on 
 Sabbath he endeavoured to have all his life; not for 
 study, but for prayer. He never laboured at his ser- 
 mons on a Sabbath. That day lie kept for its original 
 end, the refreshmeiit of his soul. 
 
 The parish of St. Peter's, to which he had come, 
 was large and very destitute. It is situated at the 
 west end of the town, and included some part of the 
 adjacent country. The church was built in connec- 
 tion with the Church Extension Scheme. The parish 
 was a quoad sacra parish, detached from St. John's. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 67 
 
 It contains a population of four thousand souls, very 
 many of wliom never crossed the threshold of any 
 sanctuary. His congregation amounted, at the very 
 outset, to about one thousand one hundred hearers, 
 one-third of whom came from distant parts of the 
 town. 
 
 Here was a wide field for parochial labour. It was 
 also a very dead region — few, even of those who were 
 living Christians, breathing their life on others; for 
 the surrounding mass of impenetrable heathenism had 
 cast its sad influence even over them. His first im- 
 pressions of Dundee were severe. " A city given to 
 idolatry and hardness of heart. I fear there is much 
 of what Isaiah speaks of, ' The prophets prophesy lies, 
 and the people love to have it so.' " 
 
 His first months of labour were very trying. He 
 was not strong in bodily health, and that winter a 
 fatal influenza prevailed for two or three months, so 
 that most of his time in his parish was spent in visit- 
 ing the sick and dying. In such cases he was always 
 ready. "Did I tell you of the boy I was asked to 
 see on Sabbath evening, just when I had got myself 
 comfortably seated at home ? I went and was speak- 
 ing to him of the freeness and fulness of Jesus, when 
 he gasped a little and died.'' 
 
 In one of his first visits to tlie sick, the narrative 
 of the Lord's singular dealings with one of his parish- 
 ioners greatly encouraged him to carry the glad tidings 
 to the distressed under every disadvantage. Four 
 years before, a young woman had been seized with 
 cholera, and was deprived of the use of speech for a 
 whole year. The Bible was read to her, and men of 
 God used to speak and pray with her. At the end of 
 the year, her tongue was loosed, and the first words 
 heard from her lips were praise and thanksgiving for 
 what the Lord had done for her soul. It was in her 
 chamber he was now standing, hearing from her own 
 lips what the Lord had wrouglit. 
 
 On anotlier occasion, during the first year of his 
 ministry, he witnessed the death-bed conversion of a 
 man who, till within a few days of his end, almost 
 
68 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 denied that there was a God. This soHd conversion, 
 as he beheved it to be, stirred him up to speak with 
 all hopefulness, as well as earnestness, to the d^'ing. 
 
 But it was, above all, to the children of God that 
 his visitations seemed blessed. His voice, and his 
 very eye, spoke tenderness ; for personal affliction had 
 taught him to feel sympathy with the sorrowing. 
 Though the following is an extract from a letter, yet 
 it will be recognized by many as exhibiting his mode 
 of dealing with God's afflicted ones in his visitations. 
 "There is a sweet word in Exodus (iii. 7), which was 
 pointed out to me the other day by a poor bereaved 
 child of God — ' I know their sorrows.' Study that ; 
 it fills the soul. Another word like it is in Psalm ciii. 
 14 — ^ He knoweth our frame.' INIay your own soul, 
 and that of your dear friends, be fed by these things. 
 A dark hour makes Jesus bright. Another sweet 
 word — 'They knew not that it was Jesus.'" 
 
 I find some specimens of his sick visits among his 
 papers, noted down at a time when his work had not 
 grown upon his hands. " January 25, 1S37 — Visited 
 Mt. JMcBain, a young woman of twenty-four, long 
 ill of decline. Better or worse these ten years past. 
 Spoke of ' the one thing needful,^ plainly. She sat 
 quiet. February 14th — Had heard she was better — 
 found her near dying. Spoke plainly and tenderly to 
 her, commending Christ. Used many texts. She put 
 out her hand kindly on leaving. 15th — Still dying- 
 like ; spoke as yesterday. She never opened her eyes. 
 16th — Showed her the dreadfulness of wrath; free- 
 ness of Christ ; the majesty, justice, and truth of God. 
 Poor ^I. is fast going the way whence she shall not 
 return. Many neighbours also always gather in. 17th 
 — Read Psalm xxii. ; showed the sufierings of Christ; 
 how sufficient an atonement ; how feelins: a \\\z\\ 
 priest. She breathed loud, and groaned through pain. 
 Died this evening at seven. I hardly ever heard her 
 speak anything; and I will hope that thou art with 
 Christ in glory, till I go and see. 20th — Prayed at 
 her funeral. Saw her laid in St. Peter's church-yard, 
 the first laid there, by her own desire, in the fresh 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 69 
 
 mould where man never was laid. ]\Iay it be a 
 token that she is with Him who was laid in a new 
 tomb." 
 
 He records another case. '•^ January A. 1837 — 
 
 Sent for to ]Mrs. S . Very i]l: asthmatic. Spoke 
 
 on 'no condemnation to them that are in Christ.' 
 She said, 'But am 1 iu Christ?' seemingly very anxi- 
 ous — said she had often been so, and Iiad let it go 
 by. 5th, — Still living ; spoke to her of Christ, and of 
 full salvation. (JMyself confined in the house till the 
 16th.) 16th, — Much worse. Not anxious to hear, yet 
 far from rest. Dark, uneasy eye. Asked me, ' What 
 is it to believe? Spoke to her on ' God, loho made 
 light shine out of darkness.' She seemed to take 
 up nothing. Lord, help ! 17th, — Still worse ; wear- 
 ing away. No smile; no sign of inward peace. Spoke 
 of ' Remember me' Went over the whole gospel in 
 the form of personal address. She drowsy. 18th, — 
 Quieter. ' My Lord and my God.' She spoke at 
 intervals. More cheerful ; anxious that I should not 
 go without prayer. Has much knowledge; complete 
 command of the Bible. 19th, — Spoke on ' convincing 
 of sin and righteousness.' Rather more heart to 
 hear. 20th, — Psalm li. Her look and her words 
 were lightsome. 23d, — Faintish and restless; no sign 
 of peace. • I am the icay' and Psalm xxv. 24th, — 
 Still silent, and little sign of any thing. 26th, — Psalm 
 x\. ' The fearful jnt.' Very plain. Could not get any 
 thing out of her. Fehruay^y 1st, — Died at twelve, 
 noon : no visible mark of hght, or comfort, or hope. 
 The day shall declare it." 
 
 One other case. "'February 5, 1839. — Called sud- 
 denly in the evening. Found him near death. Care- 
 less family. Many round him. Spoke of the freeness 
 and sufficiency of Jesus, '■Come unto me' &c., and 
 ' The wrath of God revealed from heaven.' Told him 
 he was going where he would see Christ; asked him 
 if he wished him to be his saviour ? He seemed to an- 
 swer; his father said, ' He is saying, yes.' But it was 
 the throe of death. One or two indescribable gasps, 
 and he died! I sat silent, and let God preach. 7th, — 
 
70 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Spoke of the ^Widoiv of Nain,^ and ^Behold, I stand 
 at the door."* '^ 
 
 Attendance at funerals was often to him a season of 
 much exercise. Sliould it not be to all ministers a time 
 for solemn inquiry? Was I faithful with tliis soul? 
 Could this soul have learned salvation from me every 
 time I saw him? And did I pray as fervently as I 
 spoke? And if we have tender pity for souls, we will 
 sometimes feel as Mr. McCheyne records. ^^ Sept em- 
 ber 24. — Buried A. M. Felt bitterly the word, ^ If 
 any man draw back,' &c. Never had more bitter 
 feelings at any funeral.'' 
 
 All who make any pretension to the office of shep- 
 herd visit their flocks ;'^ yet there is a wide difference 
 in the kind of visits which shepherds give. One does 
 it formally, to discharge his duty and to quiet con- 
 science; another makes it his delight. And of those 
 who make it their delight, one goes forth on the regu- 
 lar plan of addressing all in somewhat of the same 
 style; while another speaks freely, according as the 
 wounds of his sheep come to view. On all occasions, 
 this difficult and trying work must be gone about with 
 a full heart, if it is to be gone about successfully at all. 
 There is little in it to excite, for there is not the pre- 
 sence of numbers, and the few you see at a time are 
 in their calmest, every-day mood. Hence there is 
 need of being full of grace, and need of feeling as 
 though God did visit every hearer by your means. 
 Our object is not to get duty done, but to get souls 
 saved. Mr. McCheyne used to go forth in this spirit; 
 and often after visiting from house to house for several 
 hours, he would return to some room in the place in 
 the evening, and preach to the gathered families. 
 " September 26, 1S3S. — Good visiting-day. Twelve 
 families; many of them go nowhere. It is a great 
 thing to be well furnished by meditation and prayer 
 before setting out; it makes j-ou a far more full and 
 
 * Baxter says, " I dare prognosticate from knowledge of the na- 
 ture of true grace, that all godly ministers will make conscience of 
 this duty, and address themselves to it, unless they be, by some ex- 
 traordinary accident, disabled." — Reformed Pastor. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 71 
 
 faithful witness. Preached in A. F.'s house on Job, 
 ^ I know that my Redeemer liveth.^ Very sweet and 
 precious to myself." 
 
 Partly from his state of health, and partly from the 
 vast accumulation of other labours, and the calls made 
 on him for evangelizing elsewhere, he was never able 
 to overtake the visitation of the whole district assign- 
 ed him. He was blessed to attract and reclaim very 
 many of the most degraded ; and by Sabbath-schools, 
 and a regular eldership, to take superintendence of the 
 population, to a great extent. Still he himself often 
 said that his parish had never fully shared in the ad- 
 vantages that attend an aggressive system of parochial 
 labour. Once, when spending a day in the rural 
 parish of CoUace, as we went in the afternoon from 
 door to door, and spoke to the children whom we met 
 on the road-side, he smiled and said, " Well, how I 
 envy a country minister; for he can get acquainted 
 with all his people, and have some insight into their 
 real character." Many of us thought that he after- 
 wards erred, in the abundant frequency of his evan- 
 gelistic labours at a time when he was still bound to 
 a particular flock. 
 
 He had an evening-class every week for the young 
 people of his congregation. The Catechism and the 
 Bible were his text books, while he freely introduced 
 all manner of useful illustrations. He thought him- 
 self bound to prepare diligently for his classes, that 
 he might give accurate and simple explanations, and 
 unite what was interesting with the most solemn and 
 awakening views. But it was his class for young com- 
 municants that engaged his deepest care, and wherein 
 he saw most success. He began a class of this kind 
 previous to his first communion, and continued to 
 form it again some weeks before every similar occa- 
 sion. His tract, published in 1840, " This do in re- 
 niemhrance of Tne^^^ may be considered as exhibiting 
 the substance of his solemn examinations on these 
 occasions. 
 
 He usually noted down his first impressions of his 
 communicants, and compared these notes with what 
 he afterwards saw in them. Thus: "M. K., sprightly 
 
72 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 and lightsome, yet sensible ; she saw plainly that the 
 converted alone should come to the Table, but stum- 
 bled at the question, If she was converted? Yet she 
 claimed being awakened and brought to Christ/' 
 Another : " Very staid, intelligent-like person, with 
 a steady kind of anxiety, but, I fear, no feeUng of 
 helplessness. Thought that sorrow and prayer would 
 obtain forgiveness. Told her plainly what I thought 
 of her case." Another: "Knows she was once Christ- 
 less ; now she reads and prays, and is anxious. I 
 doubt not there is some anxiety, yet I fear it may 
 be only a self-reformation to recommend herself to 
 God and to man. Told her plainly." "A. M., I 
 fear much for him. Gave him a token with much 
 anxiety: warned him very much." " C. P. does not 
 seem to have any work of anxiety. He reads prayer- 
 books, &:c. Does not pray in secret. Seems not very 
 intellisfent." 
 
 He sought to encourage Sabbath-schools in all the 
 districts of his parish. The hymn, " Oil for the 
 Lanip,''^ was written to impress the parable on a class 
 of Sabbath scholars, in 1S43. Some of his sweet, 
 simple tracts were written for these schools. '' Reasons 
 ivhy Children should Jly to Chrisf^ was the first, 
 written at the New Year, 1839; and " The Lambs of 
 the Flock'' ^ was another at a later period. His heart 
 felt for the young. One evening, after visiting some 
 of his Sabbath-schools, he writes: "Had considerable 
 joy in teaching the children. for real heart-work 
 among them !" He could accommodate himself to 
 their capacities ; and he did not reckon it vain to use 
 his talents in order to attract their attention ; for he 
 regarded tlie soul of a child as infinitely precious. 
 Ever watchful for opportunities,on the blank leaf of a 
 book which he sent to a little boy of his congre- 
 gation, he wrote these simple lines : — 
 
 Peace be to thee, gentle boy ! 
 Many years of licaltii and joy ! 
 Love your Bible more tlian play — 
 Grow in wisdom every day. 
 Like the lark on hovering wing", 
 Early rise, and momit and sing ; 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEY.N'E. 73 
 
 Like the d<rre Uiat found no rest 
 TiU it flew to Noah's breast : — 
 Rest not in this world of sin. 
 Till the SaTionr take thee in. 
 
 He had a high standard in his i:. . i as to the moral 
 qualifications of those who should teach the young. 
 When a female teacher was sought for to conduct an 
 evening school in his parish for the sake of the mill- 
 girls, he wrote to one interested in the cause — '•' The 
 qualifications she should possess for sewing and knit- 
 ting, you will understand far better than I. She 
 should be able to keep up in her scholars the fluency 
 of reading, and the knowledge :f tlie Bible and Cate- 
 chism, which they may have already acquired. She 
 should be able to teach them to sing the praises of 
 God. with feeling and melody. Bat, far abore all, 
 she should be a Christian woman, not in name only, 
 but in deed and in truth — one whose heart has been 
 touched by the Spirit of God, and who can love the 
 souls of little children. Any teacher who wanted this 
 last qualificati:::. I would look upon as a curse rather 
 than a blessing — a centre of blasting, and coldness, 
 and death, inste:i i f a centre from which life, and 
 warmth, and heavenly influence might emanate." 
 
 It was very soon after his ordination that he began 
 his weekly prayer-meeting in the Church. He had 
 he^ird how meetings of this kind had been blessed in 
 other places, and never had he any caose to regret 
 having set apart the Thursday evening for this holy 
 purpose. One of its first effects was to quicken those 
 who had already believed. They were often refreshed 
 on these occasions even more than on the Sabbath- 
 Some of the most solemn seasons of his ministry were 
 at those meetings. At their commencement, he wrote 
 to me an account of his manner of conducting them— 
 '• I -y : my people a scripture to be hidden in the 
 i : — r ly a promise of the Spirit, or the won- 
 
 derlul eliecis of his outpouring.* I give them the 
 
 * The first text he grare to be thus hidden in the he-art wa.s Isaiah 
 xxxiv. 15 — ^' Until the Spirit be poured out from on hi^." 
 
 7 
 
74 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 heads of a sermon upon it for about twenty minutes. 
 Prayer goes before and follows. Then I read some 
 Jiistory of revivals, and comment in passing. I think 
 the people are very much interested in it: a number 
 of people come from all parts of the town. But, O! 
 I need much the living Spirit to my own soul ; I want 
 my life to be hid with Christ in God. At present 
 there is too much hurry, and bustle, and outward 
 working, to allow the calm working of the Spirit on 
 the heart. I seldom get time to meditate, like Isaac, 
 at evening-tide, except v/hen I am tired ; but the dew 
 comes down when all nature is at rest — when every 
 leaf is still." 
 
 A specimen of the happy freedom and familiar 
 illustrations which his people felt to be peculiar to 
 these meetings, may be found in the notes taken by 
 one of his hearers, of " Expositions of the Epistles 
 to the Seven Churches,^^ given during the year 1S3S. 
 
 He had himself great delight in the Thursday even- 
 ing meetings. " They will doubtless be remembered 
 in eternity with songs of praise,'^ said he, on one oc- 
 casion; and at another time, observing the tender 
 frame of soul which was often manifested at these 
 seasons, he said, "There is a stillness to the last word — 
 not as on Sabbaths, a rushing down at the end of the 
 prayer, as if glad, to get out of God's presence." So 
 many believing and so many inquiring souls used to 
 attend, and so few of the worldlings, that you seemed 
 to breathe the atmosphere of heaven. 
 
 But it was his Sabbath-day's services that brought 
 multitudes together, and were soon felt throughout the 
 town. He was ever so ready to assist his brethren, 
 so much engaged in every good work, and latterly so 
 often interrupted by inquiries, that it might be thought 
 he had no time for careful preparation, and might be 
 excused for the absence of it. But, in truth, he never 
 preached without careful attention bestowed on his 
 subject. He might, indeed, have little time — often 
 the hours of a Saturday were all the time he could ob- 
 tain — but his daily study of the Scriptures stored his 
 mind, and formed a continual preparation. Much of 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 75 
 
 his Sabbath services was a drawing out of what he 
 had carried in during busy days of the week. 
 
 His voice was remarkably clear — his manner at- 
 tractive by its mild dignity. His form itself drew the 
 eye.* He spoke from the pulpit as one earnestly 
 occupied with the souls before him. He made them 
 feel sympathy with what he spoke, for his own eye 
 and heart were on them. He was, at the same time, 
 able to bring out illustrations at once simple and feli- 
 citous, often with poetic skill and elegance. He wished 
 to use Saxon words, for the sake of being understood 
 by the most illiterate in his audience. And while his 
 style was singularly clear, this clearness itself was so 
 much the consequence of his being able thoroughly to 
 analyse and explain his subject, that all his hearers 
 alike reaped the benefit. 
 
 He went about his public work with awful reve- 
 rence. So evident was this, that I remember a coun- 
 tryman in my parish observing to me — '^Before he 
 opened his lips, as he came along the passage, there 
 was something about him that sorely affected me." 
 
 In the vestry, there was never any idle conversa- 
 tion; all was preparation of heart in approaching God; 
 and a short prayer preceded his entering the pulpit. 
 Surely in going forth to speak for God, a man may 
 well be overawed! Surely in putting forth his hand 
 to sow the seed of the kingdom, a man may even 
 tremble! And surely we should aim at nothing less 
 than to pour forth the truth upon our people through 
 the channel of our own living souls. 
 
 After announcing the subject of his discourse, he 
 used generally to show the position it occupied in the 
 context, and then proceed to bring out the doctrines 
 of the text in the manner of our old divines. This 
 done, he divided his subject; and herein he was emi- 
 nently skilful. "The heads of his sermons," said a 
 friend, " were not the milestones that tell you how 
 near you are to your journey's end, but they were 
 nails which fixed and fastened all he said. Divisions 
 
 * "Gratior est pulcliro veniens e corpore virtus." 
 
76 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 are often dry; but not so his divisions — they were so 
 textual and so feeling, and they brought out the spirit 
 of a passage so surprisingly/' 
 
 It was his wish to arrive nearer at the primitive 
 mode of expounding Scripture in his sermons. Hence 
 when one asked him, If he was never afraid of run- 
 ning short of sermons some day, he replied — "No; I 
 am just an interpreter of Scripture in my sermons; 
 and when the Bible runs dry, then I will." And in 
 the saine spirit he carefully avoided the too common 
 mode of accommodating texts — fastening a doctrine 
 on the words, not drawing it from the obvious con- 
 nection of the passage. He endeavoured at all times 
 to preach the mind of the Spirit in a passage; for 
 he feared that to do otherwise would be to grieve the 
 Spirit who had written it. Interpretation was thus a 
 solemn matter to him. And yet, adhering scrupu- 
 lously to this sure principle, he felt himself in no way 
 restrained from using, for every day's necessities, all 
 parts of the Old Testament as much as the New. 
 His manner was first to ascertain the primary sense 
 and application, and so proceed to handle it for pre- 
 sent use. Thus, on Isaiah xxvi. 16-19, he began — 
 " This passage, I believe, refers literally to the con- 
 version of God's ancient people." He regarded the 
 prophecies as history yet to be, and drew lessons 
 from them accordingly as he would have done from 
 the past. Every spiritual gift being in the hands of 
 Jesus, if he found Moses or Paul in the possession of 
 precious things, he forthwith was led to follow them 
 into the presence of that same Lord who gave them 
 all their grace 
 
 There is a wide difference between preaching doc- 
 trine and preaching Christ. Mr. McCheyne preached 
 all the doctrines of Scripture as understood by our 
 Confession of Faith, dwelling upon ruin by the fall, 
 and recovery by the Mediator. " The things of the 
 human heart, and the things of the Divine mind," 
 Avere in substance his constant theme. From personal 
 experience of deep temptation, he could lay open the 
 secrets of the heart, so that he once said, *^He supposed 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 77 
 
 the reason why some of the worst sinners in Dundee 
 had come to hear him was, because his heart exhi- 
 bited so much hlveness to theirs." Still it was not 
 doctrine alone that he preached ; it was Christ, from 
 whom all doctrine shoots forth as rays from a centre. 
 He sought to hang every vessel and flagon upon him. 
 *^It is strange," he wrote after preaching on Revela- 
 tions i. 15 — "It is strange how sweet and precious it 
 is to preach directly about Christ, compared with all 
 other subjects of preaching." And he often expressed 
 a dislike of the phrase, '^giving attention to reli- 
 gion,^' because it seemed to substitute doctrine, and 
 a devout way of thinking, for Christ himself. 
 
 It is difficult to convey to those who never knew 
 him a correct idea of the sweetness and holy unction 
 of his preaching. Some of his sermons, printed from 
 his own j\ISS. (although almost all are first copies), 
 may convey a correct idea of his style and mode of 
 preaching doctrine. But there are no notes that give 
 any true idea of his affectionate appeals to the heart 
 and searching applications. These he seldom wrote ; 
 they were poured forth at the moment when his 
 heart filled with his subject ; for his rule was to set 
 before his hearers a body of truth first — and there 
 always was a vast amount of Bible truth in his dis- 
 courses — and then urge home the application. His 
 exhortations flowed from his doctrine, and thus had 
 both variety and power. He was systematic in this; 
 for he observed — " Appeals to the careless, &c., come 
 with power on the back of some massy truth. See 
 how Paul does, (Acts xin. 40,) ' Beware, therefore, 
 lest,' &c., and (Hebrews ii. 1,) 'Therefore,\YQ should/ 
 &c." 
 
 He was sometimes a little unguarded in his state- 
 ments, when his heart was deeply moved and his 
 feelings stirred, and sometimes he was too long in his 
 addresses ; but this, also, arose from the fulness of his 
 soul. "Another word," he thought, "' may be blessed, 
 though the last has made no impression." 
 
 Many will remember for ever the blessed commu- 
 nion Sabbaths that were enjoyed in St. Peter's. From 
 
78 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the very first these commnnion-seasons were remark- 
 ah]y owned of God. The awe of His presence nsed 
 to he upon the people, and the house filled with the 
 odour of the ointment, when His name was poured 
 forth, (Song i. 3.) But on common Sabbaths also 
 many soon began to journey long distances to attend 
 at St. Peter's — many from country parishes, who 
 would return home with their hearts burning, as they 
 talked of what they had heard that day. 
 
 Mr. McCheyne knew the snare of popularity, and 
 naturally was one that would have been fascinated by 
 it; but the Lord kept him. He Avas sometimes extra- 
 ordinarily helped in his preaching, but at other times, 
 though not perceived by his hearers, his soul felt as if 
 left to its own resources. The cry of Rowland Hill 
 was constantly on his lips, " Master, help!" and often 
 is it written at. the close of his sermons. Much afflic- 
 tion, also, was a thorn in the flesh to him. He 
 described himself as often " strong as a giant when in 
 the church, but like a willow-wand when all was 
 over." But certainly, above all, his abiding sense of 
 the Divine favour was his safe-guard. He began his 
 ministry in Dundee with this sunshine on his way. 
 " As yet I have been kept not only in the light of his 
 reconciled countenance, but Yery much under the 
 guiding eye of our providing God. Indeed, as I re- 
 member good old Swartz used to say, ' I could not 
 have imagined that He could have been so gracious to 
 us.' " I believe that he had far deeper joy after his 
 return from Palestine than in the early part of his 
 ministry; that from the very commencement of it, he 
 enjoyed that sense of the love of God which keeps the 
 heart and mind. This was the true secret of his holy 
 walk, and of his calm humility. But for this, his am- 
 bition would have become the only principle of many 
 an action; but now the sweeter love of God constrain- 
 ed him, and the natural ambition of his spirit could be 
 discerned only as suggesting to him the idea of making 
 attempts which others would have declined. 
 
 What monotony there is in the ministry of many! 
 Duty presses on the heels of duty in an endless circle. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 79 
 
 But it is not so when the Spirit is quickening both the 
 pastor and his flock. Then there is all the variety of 
 life. It was so here. 
 
 The Lord began to work by his means ahiiost from 
 the first day he came. There was ever one and an- 
 other stricken, and going apart to weep alone. 
 
 The flocking of souls to his ministry, and the deep 
 interest excited, drew the attention of many, and 
 raised the wish in some quarters to have him as their 
 pastor. He had not been many months engaged in 
 his laborious work when he was sohcited to remove 
 to the parish of Skirling, near Biggar. It was an off'er 
 that presented great advantages above his own field 
 of labour as to worldly gain, and in respect of the 
 prospect it held out of comparative ease and comfort; 
 for the parish was small and the emolument great. 
 But as it is required of a bishop, that he be ^-not greedy 
 of filthy lucre;" nay, that he be "one who has no 
 love of money'^ (d<p aa^yr^oj, 1 Tim. iii. 3) at all, so 
 was it true that in him these qualifications eminently 
 shone. His remarks in a letter to his father contain 
 the honest expression of his feelings: — " I am set down 
 among nearly four thousand people; eleven hundred 
 people have taken seats in my church. I bring my 
 message, such as it is, within the reach of that great 
 company every Sabbath-day. I dare not leave this 
 people. I dare not leave three thousand or four thou- 
 sand, for three hundred people. Had this been off'ered 
 me before, I would have seen it a direct intimation 
 from God, and would heartily have embraced it. How 
 I should have delighted to feed so precious a little 
 flock — to watch over every family — to know every 
 heart — ^to allure to brighter worlds and lead the way!' 
 But God has not so ordered it. He has set me down 
 aniong the noisy mechanics and political weavers of 
 this godless town. He will make the money sufll- 
 cient. He that paid his taxes from a fish's mouth, 
 will supply all my need." He had already expressed 
 the hope, " Perhaps the Lord will make this wilder- 
 ness of chimney-tops to be green and beautiful as the 
 garden of the Lord, a field which the Lord hath 
 blessed.*' 
 
so MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 His health was delicate ; and the harassing cares 
 and endless fatigue incident to his position, in a town 
 hke Dundee, seemed unsuitable to his spirit. This 
 belief led to another attempt to remove him to a 
 country sphere. In the summer of this same year 
 (1837) he was strongly urged to preach as a candidate 
 for the vacant parish of St. Martin's, near Perth, and 
 assured of the appointment if he would only come 
 forward. But he declined again : '' My Master has 
 placed me here with his own hand ; and I never will, 
 directly or indirectly, seek to be removed." 
 
 There were circumstances in this latter case that 
 made the call on him appear urgent in several points 
 of view. In coming to a resolution, he mentions one 
 interesting element in the decision, in a letter to me, 
 dated dlugust 8th. <^ I was much troubled about 
 being asked to go to a neighbouring parish at present 
 vacant, and made it a matter of prayer ; and I men- 
 tion it now because of the wonderful answer to 
 prayer which I think I received from God. I prayed 
 that in order to settle my own mind completely about 
 staying, he would awaken some of my people. I 
 agreed that that should be a sign he would wish me 
 to stay. The next morning, I think, or at least the 
 second morning, there came to me two young persons 
 I had never seen before, in great distress. What 
 brought this to my mind was, that they came to me 
 again yesterday, and their distress is greatly increased. 
 Indeed I never saw any people in such anguish about 
 their souls. I cannot but regard this as a real answer 
 to prayer. I have also several other persons in deep 
 distress, and I feel that I am quite helpless in comfort- 
 ing them. I would fain be like Noah, who put out 
 liis hand and took in the weary dove; but God makes 
 me stand by and feel that I am a child. Will God 
 never cast the scenes of our labour near each other ? 
 We are in his hand ; let him do as seemeth him good. 
 Pray for me, for my people, for my own soul, that I 
 be not a castaway." 
 
 Few godly pastors can be willing to change the 
 scene of their labours, unless it be plain that the 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 81 
 
 cloudy pillar is pointing them away. It is perilous 
 for men to choose for themselves ; and too often has 
 it happened that the minister who, on slight grounds, 
 moved away from his former watch-tower, has had 
 reason to mourn over the disappointment of his hopes 
 in his larger and wider sphere. But while this is 
 admitted, probably it may appear unwarrantable in 
 Mr. McCheyne to have prayed for a sign of the 
 Lord's will. It is to be observed, however, that he 
 decided the point of duty on other grounds, and it 
 was only with the view of obtaining an additional 
 confirmation by the occurrences of Providence, that 
 he prayed in this manner, in submission to the will of 
 the Lord. He never held it right to decide the path 
 of duty by any such signs or tokens; he believed that 
 the written word supplied sufficient data for guiding 
 the believing soul; and such providential occurrences 
 as happened in this case he regarded as important, 
 only so far as they might be answers to prayer. In- 
 deed, he himself has left us a glance of his views on 
 this point in a fragment, which (for it is not dated) 
 may have been written about this time. He had been 
 thinking on " Gidtoii's Fleece.^- 
 
 When God called Gideon forth to fight — 
 
 " Go, save thou Israel in thy might," — 
 
 The faithful warrior sought a sign 
 
 That God would on his labours shine. 
 The man who, at thy dread command, 
 Lifted the shield and deadly brand, 
 To do thy strange and fearful work — 
 Thy work of blood and vengeance, Lord I — 
 Might need assurance doubly tried. 
 To prove thou wouldst his steps betide. 
 
 But when the message which we bring 
 
 Is one to make the dumb man sing ; 
 
 To bid the blind man wash and see, 
 
 The lame to leap with ecstasy; 
 
 To raise the soul that's bowed down, 
 
 To wipe away the tears and frown ; 
 
 To sprinkle all the heart within, 
 
 From the accusing voice of sin — 
 Then, such a sign my call to prove, 
 To preach my Saviour's dying love, 
 I cannot, dare not, hope to find, 
 
S2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 111 the close of the same year 1837, he agreed to 
 become Secretary to the Association for Church Ex- 
 tension in the county of Forfar. The Church Exten- 
 sion scheme, though much misrepresented and much 
 misunderstood, had in view as its genuine, sincere 
 endeavour, to bring to overgrown parishes the advan- 
 tage of a faithful minister, placed over such a number 
 of souls as he could readily visit. Mr. McCheyne cheer- 
 fully and diligently forwarded these objects to the 
 utmost of his power. " It is the cause of God/' said 
 he, " and therefore I am willing to spend and be spent 
 for it." It compelled him to ride much from place to 
 place; but riding was an exercise of which he was 
 fond, and which was favourable to his health. As a 
 specimen — ''Dec. 4t.h, 1838. Travelled to Montrose. 
 Spoke, along with Mr. Guthrie, at a Church Exten- 
 sion meeting; eight or nine hundred present. Tried 
 to do something in the Saviour's cause, both directly 
 and indirectly. Next day at Forfar. Spoke in the 
 same cause." 
 
 How heartily he entered into this scheme may be 
 seen from the following extract. In a letter of an 
 after date to Mr. Roxburgh, he says — " Every day I 
 live, I feel more and more persuaded that it is the 
 cause of God and of his kingdom in Scotland in our 
 day. Many a time, when I thought myself a dying 
 man, the souls of the perishing thousands in my own 
 parish, who never enter any house of God, have lain 
 heavy on my heart. Many a time have I prayed that 
 the eyes of our enemies might be opened, and that 
 God would open the hearts of our rulers, to feel that 
 their highest duty and greatest glory is to support the 
 ministers of Christ, and to send these to every perish- 
 ing soul in Scotland." He felt that their misery was 
 all the greater, and their need the deeper, that such 
 neglected souls had no wish for help, and would never 
 ask for it themselves. Nor was it that he imagined 
 that, if churches were built and ministers endowed, 
 this would of itself be sufficient to reclaim the multi- 
 tudes of perishing men. But he sought and expected 
 that the Lord would send faitliful men into his vine- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 83 
 
 yard. These new churches were to be Uke cisterns — 
 ready to catch the shower when it should fall, just as 
 his own did in the day of the Lord's power. 
 
 His views on the subject were summed up in the 
 following lines, written one day as he sat in company 
 with some of his zealous brethren who were deeply 
 engaged in the scheme : — 
 
 "Give me a man of God the truth to preach, 
 A house of prayer within convenient reach, 
 Seat-rents the poorest of the poor can pay, 
 A spot so small one pastor can survey, 
 Give these — and give the Spirit's genial shower, 
 Scotland shall be a garden all in flower I" 
 
 Another public duty, to which during all the years 
 of his ministry he gave constant attention, was attend- 
 ance at the meetings of Presbytery. His candour, 
 and uprightness, and Christian generosity, were felt by 
 all his brethren; and his opinion, though the opinion 
 of so young a man, was regarded with more than 
 common respect. In regard to the great public ques- 
 tions that were then shaking the Church of Scotland, 
 his views were decided and unhesitating. No policy, 
 in his view, could be more ruinous to true Christianity, 
 or more fitted to blight vital godliness, than that of Mo- 
 deratism. He wrote once to a friend in Ireland — " You 
 don't know what Moderatism is. It is a plant that 
 our heavenly Father never planted, and I trust it is 
 now to be rooted up." The great question of the 
 Church's independence of the civil power in all mat- 
 ters spiritual, and the right of Christian people to judge 
 if the pastor appointed over them had the Shepherd's 
 voice, he invariably held to be part of Scripture truth; 
 which, therefore, must be preached and carried into 
 practice, at all hazards. In like manner he rejoiced 
 exceedingly in the settlement of faithful ministers. 
 The appointments of Mr. Baxter to Hilltown, Mr. 
 Lewis to St. David's, and Mr. Miller to Wallacetown, 
 at a later period, are all noticed by him with expres- 
 sions of thankfulness and joy ; and it occasioned the 
 same feelings if he heard of the destitution of any 
 parish in any part of the country supplied. He writes, 
 
84 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 September 20, 183S, "Present at A. B.'s ordination 
 at CoUace with great joy. Blessed be God for the 
 gift of this pastor. Give testimony to the word of thy 
 grace.'^ 
 
 Busy at home, he nevertheless always had a keenly 
 evangelistic spirit. He might have written much, 
 and have gained a name by his writings; but he laid 
 every thing aside when put in comparison with preach- 
 ing the everlasting gospel. He scarcely ever refused 
 an invitation to preach on a week-day ; and travelling 
 from place to place did not interrupt his fellowship 
 with God. His occasional visits during these years 
 were much blessed. At Blairgowrie and Collace his 
 visits were longed for as times of special refreshment ; 
 nor was it less so at Kirriemuir, when he visited Mr. 
 Cormick, or at Abernyte in the days when Mr. Ha- 
 milton (now of Regent Square, London,) and after- 
 wards Mr. Manson, were labouring in that vineyard. 
 It would be difficult even to enumerate the places 
 which he watered at communion seasons; and in 
 some of these it was testified of him, that not the words 
 he spoke, but the holy manner in which he spoke, 
 was the chief means of arresting souls. 
 
 Occasionally two or three of us, whose lot was cast 
 within convenient distance, and whose souls panted 
 for the same water-brooks, used to meet together to 
 spend a whole day in confession of ministerial and 
 personal sins, with prayer for grace — guiding our- 
 selves by the reading of the word. At such times 
 we used to meet in the evening with the flock of the 
 pastor in whose house the meeting had been held 
 through the day, and there unitedly pray for the 
 Holy Spirit to be poured down upon the people. 
 The first time we held such a meeting, there were 
 tokens of blessing observed by several of us ; and the 
 week after he wrote — " Has there been any fruit of 
 the happy day we spent with you ? I thought I saw 
 some the Sabbath after, here. In due season we 
 shall reap if we faint not ; only be thou strong, and 
 of a good courage." The incident that encouraged 
 him is recorded in his diary. An elderly person 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 85 
 
 came to tell him how the river of joy and peace in 
 believing had that Sabbath most singnlarly flowed 
 through her soul, so that she blessed God that she 
 ever came to St. Peter's.'^ He adds, " N.B. — This 
 seems a frnit of our prayer-meeting, begun last Wed- 
 nesday at Collace — one drop of the shower." 
 
 It should have been remarked ere now, that during 
 all his ministry he was careful to use not only the 
 direct means appointed for the conversion of souls, 
 but those also that appear more indirect, such as the 
 key of discipline. In regard to the Lord's Supper, 
 his little tract explains his views. He believed that 
 to keep back those whose profession was a credible 
 profession, even while the pastor might have strong 
 doubts as to their fitness in his own mind, was not 
 the rule laid down for us in the New Testament. 
 At the same time he as steadily maintained that no 
 unconverted person ought to come to the Lord's 
 table; and on this point " they should judge them- 
 selves if they would not be judged. 
 
 When communicants came to be admitted for the 
 first time, or when parents that had long been com- 
 municants came for baptism to their children, it was 
 his custom to ask them solemnly if their souls were 
 saved. His dealing was blessed to the conversion of 
 not a few young persons who were coming carelessly 
 forward to the communion ; and himself records the 
 blessing that attended his fauhful dealing with a 
 parent coming to speak with him about the baptism 
 of his child. The man said that he had been taking 
 a thought, and believed himself in the right way — 
 that he felt his disposition better, for he could forgive 
 injuries. Mr. McCheyne showed him that neverthe- 
 less he was ignorant of God's righteousness. The 
 man laid it to heart ; and when Mr. McCheyne 
 said that he thought it would be better to defer the 
 baptism, at once otfered to come again and speak on 
 the matter. On a subsequent visit, he seemed really 
 to have seen his error, and to have cast away his own 
 righteousness. When his child was baptized, it was 
 
 8 
 
86 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 joy to the pastor's heart to have the good hope that 
 the man had received salvation. 
 
 In connection with the superstitious feeling of the 
 most depraved as to baptism, he related an affecting 
 occurrence. A careless parent one evening entered 
 his house, and asked him to come with him to bap- 
 tize a dying child. He knew that neither this man 
 nor his wife ever entered the door of a church ; but 
 lie rose and went with him to the miserable dwelling. 
 There an infant lay, apparently dying; and many of 
 the female neighbours, equally depraved with the 
 parents, stood round. He came forward to where 
 the child was, and spoke to the parents of their un- 
 godly state and fearful guilt before God, and conclud- 
 ed by showing them that, in such circumstances, he 
 would consider it sinful in him to administer baptism 
 to their infant. They said, " He might at least do it 
 for the sake of the poor child." He told them that 
 it was not baptism that saved a soul, and that out of 
 true concern for themselves he must not do as they 
 wished. The friends around the bed then joined the 
 parents in upbraiding him as having no pity on the 
 poor infant's soul ! He stood among them still, and 
 showed them that it was they who had been thus 
 cruel to their child ; and then lifted up his voice in 
 solemn warning, and left the house amid their ignor- 
 ant reproaches. 
 
 Nor did he make light of the kirk-session's power 
 to rebuke and deal with an offender. Once from the 
 pulpit, at an ordination of elders, he gave the follow- 
 ing testimony upon this head: — "When I first en- 
 tered upon the work of the ministry among you, I 
 was exceedingly ignorant of the vast importance of 
 church discipline. I thought that my great and almost 
 only work was to pray and preach. I saw your souls 
 to be so precious, and the time so short, that I devoted 
 all my time, and care, and strength, to labour in word 
 and doctrine. When cases of discipline were brought 
 before me and the elders, I regarded them with some- 
 thing like abhorrence. It was a duty I shrunk from; 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 87 
 
 and I may truly say it nearly drove me from the work 
 of the ministry among you altogether. But it pleased 
 God, who teaches his servants in another way than 
 man teaches, to bless some of the cases of discipline 
 to the manifest and undeniable conversion of the 
 souls of those under our care ; and from that hour a 
 new liglit broke in upon my mind, and I saw that if 
 preaching be an ordinance of Christ, so is church dis- 
 cipline. I now feel very deeply persuaded that both 
 are of God — that two keys are committed to us by 
 Christ, the one the key of doctrine, by means of which 
 we unlock the treasures of the Bible, the other the 
 key of discipline, by which we open or shut the way 
 to the sealing ordinances of the faith. Both are 
 Christ's gift, and neither is to be resigned without sin." 
 There was still another means of enforcing what 
 he preached, in the use of which he has excelled all 
 his brethren, namely, the holy consistency of his daily 
 walk. Aware that one idle word, one needless con- 
 tention, one covetous act, may destroy in our people 
 the effect of many a solemn expostulation and earnest 
 warning, he was peculiarly circumspect in his every- 
 day walk. He wished to be always in the presence of 
 God. If he travelled, he laboured to enjoy God by 
 the way, as well as to do good to others by dropping 
 a word in season. In riding or walking, he seized 
 opportunities of giving a useful tract; and, on princi- 
 ple, he preferred giving it to the person directly rather 
 than casting it on the road. The former way, he said, 
 was more open — there was no stealth in it — and we 
 ought to be as clear as crystal in speaking or acting 
 for Jesus. In writing a note, however short, he sought 
 to season it with salt. If he passed a night in a 
 strange place, he tried to bear the place specially on 
 his soul at the mercy-seat ; and if compelled to take 
 some rest from his too exhausting toils, his recreations 
 were little else than a change of occupation, from one 
 mode of glorifying God to another.* His beautiful 
 
 * Baxter's words are not less than the truth. •' Recreation to a 
 minister must be as whetting is with the mower, that is, only to be 
 
88 . MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 hymn, '^ I am a debtor,''^ was written in May, 1837, 
 at a leisure hour. 
 
 Whatever be said in the pulpit men will not much 
 regard, though they may feel it at the time, if the 
 minister does not say the same in private, with equal 
 earnestness, in speaking with his people face to face; 
 and it must be in our moments of most famihar in- 
 tercourse with them that we are thus to put the seal 
 to all we say in public. Familiar moments are the 
 times when the things that are most closely twined 
 round the heart are brought out to view; and shall 
 we forbear, by tacit consent, to introduce the Lord 
 that bought us into such happy hours? We must 
 not only speak faithfully to our people in our sermons, 
 but live faithfully for them too. Perhaps it may be 
 found, that the reason why many, who do certainly 
 preach the gospel fully and in all earnestness, are not 
 owned of God in the conversion of souls, lies in their 
 defective exhibition of grace in these easy moments 
 of life. "Them that honour me, I will honour;'^ 
 1 Samuel ii. 30. It was noticed long ago that men 
 will give you leave to preach against their sins as 
 much as you will, if so be you will but be friendly 
 with them when you have done, and talk as they do, 
 live as they live, and be indifferent with them in your 
 conference. How much otherwise it was with Mr. 
 McCheyne, all who knew him are witnesses ! 
 
 His visits to friends were times when he sought to 
 do good to their souls; and never was he satisfied 
 unless he could guide the conversation to bear upon 
 the things of eternity. When he could not do so, he 
 generally remained silent. And yet his demeanour 
 was easy and pleasant to all, exhibiting at once meek- 
 used so far as is necessary for his work. May a physician in the 
 plag-iie-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is necessary 
 for his life, when so many are expecting his help in a case of life and 
 death?" "Will you stand by and see sinners gasping under the 
 pangs of death, and say, God doth not require me to make myself a 
 drudge to save them ? Is this the voice of ministerial or Christian 
 compassion, or rather of sensual laziness and diabolical cruelty?" — 
 Beformed Pastor, vi. 6. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 89 
 
 ness of faith and delicacy of feeling. There was in 
 his character a high refinement that came out in 
 poetry and true pohteness; and there was something 
 in his graces that reminded one of his own remark, 
 when explaining "Me spices'^ of Song iv. 16, when 
 he said that "some believers were a garden that had 
 fruit trees, and so were useful ; but we ought also to 
 have spices and so be attractive.'^ Wishing to convey 
 his grateful feelings to a fellow labourer in Dundee, he 
 sent him a Hebrew Bible, with these few lines pre- 
 fixed; 
 
 "Anoint mine eyes. Unstop mine ear, 
 
 O holy Dove ! Made deaf by sin. 
 
 That I may prize That I may hear 
 
 This book of love. Thy voice within. 
 
 Break my hard heart, 
 
 Jesus my Lord, 
 In the inmost part 
 
 Hide thy sweet word." 
 
 It was on a similar occasion, in 1838, that he wrote 
 the lines, " Thy word is a lamj) unto my feet.^^ At 
 another time, sitting under a shady tree, and casting 
 his eye on the hospitable dwelling in which he found 
 a pleasant retreat, his grateful feelings flowed out to 
 his kind friend in the lines that follow: 
 
 " PEACE TO THIS HOUSE." 
 
 Long may peace within this dwelling 
 
 Have its resting place ; 
 Angel shields all harm repelling — 
 
 God, their God of grace, 
 
 May the dove-like Spirit guide them 
 
 To the upright land! 
 May the Saviour-shepherd feed them 
 
 From his gentle hand I 
 
 Never was there one more beloved as a friend, and 
 seldom any whose death could cause so many to feel 
 as if no other friend could ever occupy his room. 
 Some, too, can say that so much did they learn from 
 his holy walk, " that it is probable a day never passes 
 
 8* 
 
00 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 wherein they have not some advantage from his 
 friendship.'^* 
 
 I find written on the leaf of one of his note-books, 
 a short memorandum, ^' Rules worth rememhering — 
 When visiting in a family, whether ministeriahy or 
 otherwise, speak particularly to the strangers about 
 eternal things. Perhaps God has brought you toge- 
 ther just to save that soul.'' And then he refers to 
 some instances which occurred to himself, in which 
 God seemed to honour a word spoken in this inci- 
 dental way. 
 
 In this spirit, he was enaT^led for nearly three years 
 to ffive his strength to his Master's service. Sickness 
 sometimes laid him aside, and taught him what he 
 had to suffer ; but he rose from it to go forth again to 
 his joyful labours. Often, after a toilsome day, there 
 were inquirers waiting for him, so that he had to 
 begin work afresh in a new form. But this was his 
 delight; it was a kind of interruption which he allow- 
 ed even on a Saturday, in the midst of his studies. 
 He v/as led to resolve not to postpone any inquirers 
 till a future time, by finding that having done so on 
 one occasion at a pressing moment, the individuals 
 never returned; and so alive was he to the responsi- 
 bilities of his office, that he ever after feared to lose 
 such an opportunity of speaking with souls at a time 
 when they were aroused to concern. Busy one even- 
 ing with some extra-parochial work, he was asked if 
 any person should be admitted to see him that night. 
 "Surely — what do we live for?" was his immediate 
 reply. It was his manner, too, on a Saturday after- 
 noon, to visit one or two of his sick who seemed near 
 the point of death, with the view of being thus stirred 
 up to a more direct application of the truth to his 
 flock on the morrow, as dying men on the edge of 
 eternity. 
 
 We have already observed that in his doctrine there 
 
 * E^Jj fjCiv <r« nATdLvoZv TQv avS^'j^ T«v Tj 7o^i'Jiv KAt <Tnv yivvitiorifra., ovri 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 91 
 
 was nothing that differed from the views of truth laid 
 down in the standards of our Church. He saw no 
 inconsistency in preaching an electing God, who 
 " calleth whom he will," and a salvation free to 
 "whosoever will;" nor in declaring the absolnte sove- 
 reignty of God, and yet the nnimpaired responsibility 
 of man. He preached Christ as a gift laid down by 
 the Father for every sinner freely to take. In the 
 beginning of his ministry, as he preached the fnlness 
 of the glad tidings, and nrged on his people that there 
 was enongh in the glad tidings to bring direct and 
 immediate assurance to everj^one who really believed 
 them, some of his flock were startled. For he ever 
 preached that while it is true that there are believers 
 who do not enjoy full assurance of the love of God, 
 yet certainly no true believer should remain satisfied 
 in the absence of this blessed peace. Not a few had 
 hitherto been accustomed to take for granted that 
 they might be Christians, though they knew of no 
 change; and had never thought of enjoying the know- 
 ledge of the love of God as their present portion. 
 They heard that others, who were reckoned believers, 
 had doubts; so they had come to consider fears and 
 doubts as the very marks of a believing soul. The 
 consequence had been that, in past days, many con- 
 cluded themselves to be Christians, because they 
 seemed to be in the very state of mind of which those 
 who were reputed to be believers spoke, viz., doubt 
 and alarm. Alas! in their case there could be nothing 
 else, for they had only a name to live. 
 
 Some one wrote to him, putting several questions 
 concerning conversion, assurance, and faith, which 
 had been stirred up by his ministry. The import of 
 the questions may be gathered from his reply, which 
 was as follows: — 
 
 " 1. I doubt if there are many saints loho live and 
 die without a comfortable sense of forgiveness, and 
 acceptance ivith God. The saints of whom the Bible 
 speaks seem to have enjoyed it richly both in life and 
 death. See the murderers of our Lord, Acts ii. 41; 
 the Ethiopian, Acts viii. 39; the jailor, Acts xvi. 35. 
 
02 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 David also felt it, sinful man though he was; Romans 
 iv. 6. Paul also prayed that the Romans might have 
 it; Romans xv. 13. I fear this objection is generally 
 made by those who are living in sin, and do not wish 
 to know the dangerous road they are on. 
 
 "2. t^ se?ise of forgiveness does not proceed from 
 marks seen in yourself but from a discovery of the 
 beauty ^ worth, and freeness of Christ; Psa. xxxiv. 5. 
 We look out for peace, not in. At the same time 
 there is also an assurance rising from what we see in 
 ourselves: the seal of the Spirit, love to the brethren. 
 &c., are the chief marks. 
 
 " 3. Feeling a body of sin is a mark that ive are 
 like Paul, and that ice are Christ's; Rom. vii. ; Gal. 
 V. 17. Paul was cheerful with a body of sin; and so 
 ought we to be. So was David, and all the saints. 
 
 "4. I do not think there is any difference betioeen 
 those converted within these few years, and those 
 who ivere Chy'istians before. Many of those con- 
 verted since I came are, I fear, very unholy. I fear 
 this more than anything. I fear there is too much 
 talk and too little reality. Still there are many good 
 figs — many of whom I am persuaded better things, 
 and things that accompany salvation. The answer 
 to your question I fear is this, that many used to be 
 taken for Christians before, who had only a name to 
 live, and were dead. I think there is more discrimi- 
 nation now. But take care and be not proud, for that 
 goes before a fall. Take care of censorious judging 
 of others, as if all must be converted in the same way. 
 " God moves in a mysterious way. He hath mercy 
 on whom he will have mercy. To him alone be 
 glory.'^ 
 
 He thus stated his views on another occasion. Re- 
 ferring to Song vi. 3, " My Beloved is mine," follow- 
 ing "My Beloved is gone down into his garden," he 
 said, "This is the faith of assurance — a complete, 
 unhesitating embracing of Christ as my righteousness 
 and my strength and my all; A common mistake is 
 that this clear conviction that Christ is mine, is an 
 attainment far on in the divine life, and that it springs 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 93 
 
 from evidences seen in my heart. When I see myself 
 a new creature, Christ on the throne in my heart, love 
 to the brethren, &c., it is often thought that I may 
 begin then to say ^ My Beloved is mine.' How dif- 
 ferent this passage. The moment Jesus comes down 
 into the garden to the beds of spices — the moment he 
 reveals himself, the soul cries out, ' My Beloved is 
 mine.' So saith Thomas: John xx. 27, 28. The 
 moment Jesus came in and revealed his wounds, 
 Tliomas cried out, 'My Lord and my God.' He did 
 not look to see if he was believing, or if the graces of 
 love and humility were reigning; but all he saw and 
 thought of was Jesus and him crucified and risen." 
 At a subsequent period, when preaching on Matt. xi. 
 28f '^ Come unto me," he said, '^ 1 suppose it is almost 
 impossible to explain what it is to come to Jesus, it is 
 so simple. If you asked a sick person who had been 
 healed, what it was to come and be healed, he could 
 hardly tell you. As far as the Lord has given me light 
 in this matter, and looking at what my own heart does 
 in like circumstances, I do not feel that there is any- 
 thing more in coming to Jesus than just believing what 
 God says about his Son to be true. I believe that 
 many people keep themselves in darkness by expect- 
 ing something more than this. Some of you will ask, 
 ' Is there no ajijoropriating of Christ? no jjutti7ig out 
 the hand of faith) no touching the hem of his gar- 
 ment.^' I quite grant, beloved, there is such a thing, 
 but I do think it is inseparable from believing the 
 record. If the Lord persuades you of the glory and 
 power of Immanuel, I feel persuaded that you cannot 
 but choose him. It is like opening the shutters of a 
 dark room; the sun that moment shines in. So, the 
 eye that is opened to the testimony of God, receives 
 Christ that moment." 
 
 In the case of a faithful ministry, success is the 
 rule ; want of it the exception. For it is written, " In 
 doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that 
 hear thee;" 1 Tim. iv. 16. Mr. McCheyne expected 
 it, and the Lord exceeded all his hopes. 
 
 It was not yet common for persons in anxiety to go 
 
94 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 to their pastor for advice ; but soon it became an al- 
 most weekly occurrence. While it was yet rare, two 
 of his young people wrote a joint note, asking Uberty 
 to come and speak with him, " For we are anxious 
 about our souls." Among those who came there 
 were those who had striven against the truth — per- 
 sons who used to run out of hearing when the Bible 
 was read — throw down a tract if the name of God 
 was in it — go quickly to sleep after a Sabbath's plea- 
 sure in order to drown the fear of dropping into hell. 
 There were many whose whole previous life had been 
 but a threadbare profession. There were some open 
 sinners too. In short, the Lord glorified himself by 
 the variety of those whom his grace subdued, and the 
 variety of means by which his grace reached its ob- 
 ject. 
 
 One could tell him that the reading of the chapter 
 in the church with a few remarks, had been the time 
 of her awakening. Another had been struck to the 
 heart by some expression he used in his first prayer 
 before sermon one Sabbath morning. But most were 
 arrested in the preaching of the word. An interesting 
 case was that of one who was aroused to concern 
 during his sermon on " Unto whom coming as unto 
 a living sto7ie.^' As he spoke of the Father taking 
 the gem out of his bosom, and "laying it down for a 
 foundation-stone, she felt in her soul, " I know nothing 
 of this precious stone; I am surely not converted." 
 This led her to come and speak with him. She was 
 not under deep conviction; but before going away lie 
 said, " You are a poor, vile worm ; it is a wonder the 
 earth does not open and swallow you up." These 
 words were blessed to produce a very awful sense of 
 sin. She came a second time with the arrows of the 
 Almighty drinking up her spirit. For three months 
 she remained in this state, till having once more come 
 to him for counsel, the living voice of Jesus gave life 
 to her soul while he was speaking of Christ's words — 
 " If thou knevvest the gift of God," &c., and she went 
 away rejoicing. Some awakened souls told him that 
 since they were brought under concern, very many 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 95 
 
 sermons which they had heard from him before and 
 completely forgotten, had been all brought back to 
 mind. He used to remark that this might show what 
 the resurrection day would awaken in the souls of 
 gospel hearers. 
 
 In dealing with souls, he used to speak very plainly. 
 One came to him who assented to his statements of 
 the gospel, and yet refused to be comforted, always 
 looking upon coming to Christ as something in addi- 
 tion to really believing the record God has given of 
 his Son. He took John iii. 16, 17 — "For God so 
 loved the world that," &c. The woman said that 
 " God did not care for her." Upon this he at once 
 convicted her of making God a bar; and as she went 
 away in deep distress his prayer was — " Lord, give 
 her light." 
 
 To another person, who spoke of having times of 
 great joy, he showed that these were times for wor- 
 shipping God in the Spirit. "You would come to a 
 king when you were full dressed ; so come to God, 
 and abide in his presence as long as you can." 
 
 Sometimes he would send away souls, of whom he 
 entertained good hope, with a text suited to their 
 state. "If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but 
 if ye, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the 
 body, ye shall live." Or he would say, " I hear of 
 you that God has opened your heart; but remember 
 not to trust to man's opinion. Remember an all- 
 seeing Christ will be the judge at the great day." 
 To another he said, " I have long hoped you were 
 really under the wings of the Saviour: if it be so 
 abide there: do not be like Demas." 
 
 To a prayer-meeting, consisting of a few young 
 men that had been awakened to flee from wrath, he 
 gave this advice, " Guard against all ambition to ex- 
 cel one another in expression. Remember the most 
 spiritual prayer is a * groan which cannot be uttered,' 
 Rom. viii. 2Q\ or a cry of * Abba, Father,' Gal. iv. 6." 
 
 There is very little recorded in his diary during 
 these years; but what does exist will be read with 
 deepest interest. 
 
96 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 '^ March 28, 1838, Thursday. — I think of making 
 this more a journal of my people, and the success, or 
 otherwise, of my ministry. The first success among 
 my people was at the time of my first sacrament: 
 then it appeared. My first sermon, on Isaiah Ixi. 1, 
 
 was blessed to and some others. That on Ezek. 
 
 xxii. 14, *Can thine heart endure,' &c., was blessed 
 to awaken M. L. That on Song v. 2, * Open to me,' 
 &c., the Sabbath after the sacrament, was blessed to 
 another. These were happy days. M. D. was awa- 
 kened by coming to the communicants' class. An- 
 other by the action sermon. Af the words, ' I know 
 thee, Judas,' she trembled, and would have risen 
 from the table. These were glad days when one and 
 another were awakened. The people looked very 
 stirred and anxious, every day coming to hear the 
 words of eternal life — some inquiring in private every 
 week. Now, there is little of this. About fifteen 
 cases came to my knowledge the first sacrament, and 
 two awakened who seem to have gone back. About 
 eleven last sacrament — four of these young men. 
 Several Christians seemed quickened to greater joy, 
 and greater love one to another. Now it appears to 
 me there is much falling off: few seem awakened — 
 few weep as they used to do. 
 
 ^^ April 1. — Sacrament-day. Sweet season we have 
 had. Never was more straitened and unfurnished in 
 myself, and yet much helped. Kept in perfect peace, 
 my mind being stayed on Thee. Preached on ' My 
 God, my God,' &c. ; Psalm xxii. 1. Not fully pre- 
 pared, yet found some peace in it. Fenced the tables 
 from ' Christ's eyes of flame.' Little helped in serv- 
 ing the tables. Much peace in communion. Happy 
 to be one with Christ ! /, a vile worm ; He, the Lord 
 my righteousness. Mr. Cumming of Dumbarney 
 served some tables; Mr. Somerville of Anderston 
 served three, and preached in the evening on, ' Thou 
 art all fair, my love.' Very full and refreshing. All 
 sweet, sweet services. Come, thou north wind, and 
 blow, thou south, upon this garden ! May this time 
 be greatly blessed. It is my third communion; it 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 97 
 
 may be my last. My Lord may come, or I may be 
 sitting at another table soon. Moody, Candlish, and 
 Mellis, were a goodly preparation for this day; and 
 the sweet word from Camming yesterday, "When 
 the poor and needy seek water,' &c. Lord, grant 
 some awakening this day — to some bringing peace — 
 comfort to mourners — fulness to believers — an ad- 
 vance in holiness in me and my children ! 3 John iv. 
 Lord, wean me from my sins, from my cares, and 
 from this passing world. May Christ be all in all 
 to me." 
 
 " Admitted about twenty-five young communi- 
 cants ; kept two back, and one or two stayed back. 
 Some of them evidently brought to Christ. May the 
 Lord be their God, their comforter, their all ! May 
 the morrow bring still richer things to us, that we may 
 say as of to-night, ' Thou hast kept the good wine 
 until now.' " 
 
 Toward the close of this same year, some of his 
 notices are as follows : — 
 
 " October 7. — Evening. — In the Gaelic Chapel, on 
 ' I know that my Redeemer liveth,' with more seem- 
 ing power on the people than for a while. I never 
 remember of compelling souls to come into Christ so 
 much as in that discourse." 
 
 " Oct. 8. — A person of the name of came ; I 
 
 hope really awakened by last night's work; rather, by 
 thee. I do not know, however, whether grace is 
 begun or not." 
 
 " Oct. 14. — Preached on ^ Forgiving injuries.' Af- 
 ternoon — On the Second Coming : ' Let your loins 
 be girded about,' &c. Felt its power myself more 
 than ever before, how the sudden coming of the Sa- 
 viour constrains to a holy walk, separate from sin. 
 Evening — Preached it over in the Ferry." 
 
 " Oct. 21. — Met young communicants in the even- 
 ing. Good hope of all but one" 
 
 " Oct. 22. — x\ Jew preached in my church, Mr. 
 Frey, to a crowded house. Felt much moved in hear- 
 ing an Israelite after the flesh." 
 
 " Oct. 23. — Preached to sailors aboard the 'Dr. Ca- 
 
 9 
 
98 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 rey,' in the Docks. About 200. Very attentive and 
 impressed-like, on ' I know that my Redeemer Uveth.' 
 May the seed sown on the waters be found after many 
 days." 
 
 '^ November 1. — Fast-day. — Afternoon — Mr. C. on 
 ' The Thief on the Cross.' A most awakening and 
 engaging sermon, enough to make sinners fly hke a 
 cloud, and as doves to their windows. The offers of 
 Christ were let down very low, so that those low of 
 stature mi2:ht take hold." 
 
 " Nov. 5. — Mr. died this morning at seven 
 
 o'clock. that I may take warning, lest, after 
 preaching to others, I myself be a castaway. Love 
 of popularity is said to have been liis besetting sin." 
 
 " December 2. — Errol communion. Heard Mr. 
 Grierson preach on Christ's entry mto Jerusalem. 
 Served two tables. Evening — Preached to a large 
 congregation, on *Unto you, men, I call,' &c. The 
 free visitation of the Saviour. May some find him 
 this day !" 
 
 In addition to the other blessings which the Lord 
 sent by his means to the place where he laboured, it 
 was obvious to all that the tone of Christians was 
 raised as much by his holy walk as by his heavenly 
 ministry. Yet, during these pleasant days, he had 
 much reproach to bear. He was the object of super- 
 cilious contempt to formal, cold-hearted ministers, 
 and of bitter hatred to many of the ungodly. At this 
 day, there are both ministers and professing Christians 
 of whom Jesus would say, " The world cannot hate 
 you," (John vii. 7,) for the world cannot hate itself;. 
 but it was not so with Mr. McCheyne. Very deep 
 was the enmity borne to him by some — all the deeper, 
 because the only cause of it was his likeness to his 
 Master. But nothing turned him aside. He was 
 full of ardour, yet ever gentle, and meek and gene- 
 rous; full of zeal, yet never ruffled by his zeal; and 
 not only his strength of "first love" (Rev. ii. 4.), 
 but even its warm glow, seemed in him to suffer no 
 decay. 
 
 Thus he spent the first years of his ministry in 
 
REV, R. M. McCHEYNE. 99 
 
 Dundee. The town began to feel that they had a 
 pecnUar man of God in the midst of them; for he Uved 
 as a true son of Levi. "JNIy covenant was with him 
 of life and peace, and I gave them to him for the fear 
 wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my 
 name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and in- 
 iquity was not found on his lips : he walked with me 
 in peace and equity; and did turn many away from 
 iniquity;'^ (Mai. ii. 5, 6.) 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HIS MISSION TO PALESTINE AND THE JEWS. 
 
 Here am I ; send me. — Isaiah vi. 8. 
 
 Though engaged night and day with his flock in 
 St. Peter's, Mr. McCheyne ever cherished a mission- 
 ary spirit. '^ This place hardens me for a foreign 
 land," was his remark on one occasion. This spirit 
 he sought to kindle yet more by reading missionary 
 intelligence for his own use, and often to his people at 
 his weekly prayer-meeting. The necessities both of 
 his own parish, and of the world at large, lay heavy 
 on his soul ; and when an opportunity of evangelizing 
 occurred, there was none in Scotland more ready to 
 embrace it. He seemed one who stood with his loins 
 girt — '- Here am I; send me." 
 
 Another motive to incessant activity, was the de- 
 cided impression on his mind that his career would be 
 short. From the very first days of his ministry he 
 had a strong feeling of this nature ; and his friends 
 remember how his letters used to be sealed with this 
 seal, " The night comethP At a time when he was 
 apparently in his usual health, we were talking to- 
 gether on the subject of the Premillennial Advent. 
 We had begun to speak of the practical influence 
 
100 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 which the beUef of that doctrine might have. At 
 length he said, " that he saw no force in the argu- 
 ments generally urged against it, though he had dilli- 
 cuhies of his own in regard to it. And, perhaps (he 
 added), it is well for you, who enjoy constant health, 
 to be so firmly persuaded that Christ is thus to come; 
 but my sickly frame makes me feel every day that my 
 time may be very short. '^ 
 
 He was, therefore, in some measure prepa'red when, 
 in the midst of his laborious duties, he was compelled 
 to stand still and see what the Lord would do. 
 
 In the close of 1838, some symptoms appeared that 
 alarmed his friends. His constitution, never robust, 
 began to feel the effects of unremitting labour; for 
 occasionally he would spend six hours in visiting, and 
 then, the same evening, preach in some room to all 
 the families whom he had that day visited. Very 
 generally, too, on Sabbath, after preaching twice to 
 his own flock, he was engaged in ministering some- 
 where else in the evening. But now, after any great 
 exertion, he was attacked by violent palpitation of 
 heart. It soon increased, affecting him in his hours 
 of study ; and at last it became almost constant. 
 Upon this, his medical advisers insisted on a total 
 cessation of his public work; for though, as yet, there 
 was no organic change on his lungs, there was every 
 reason to apprehend that that might be the result. 
 Accordingly, with deep regret, he left Dundee to seek 
 rest and change of occupation, hoping it would be onh' 
 for a week or two. 
 
 A few days after leaving Dundee, he writes from 
 Edinburgh, in reply to the anxious inquiries of his 
 friend Mr. Grierson, " The beating of the heart is not 
 now so constant as it was before. The pitcher draws 
 more quietly at the cistern ; so that, by the kind provi- 
 dence of our Heavenly Father, I may be spared a little 
 longer before the silver cord be loosed, and the golden 
 bowl be broken.'^ 
 
 It was found that his complaints were such as would 
 be likely to give way under careful treatment, and a 
 temporary cessation from all exertion. Under his 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 101 
 
 father's roof, therefore, in Edinburgh, he resigned 
 himself to the will of his Father in heaven. But 
 deeply did he feel the trial of being laid aside from 
 his loved employment, though he learnt of Him who 
 was meek and lowly to make the burden light in his 
 own way, by saying, "Even so, Father, for so it 
 seemeth good in thy sight." He wrote to Mr. Grier- 
 son again, Ja;zz/fl?'y 5, 1839, " I hope this affliction 
 will be blessed to me. I always feel much need of 
 God's afflicting hand. In the whirl of active labour 
 there is so little time for watching, and for bewaiUng, 
 and seeking grace, to oppose the sins of our ministry, 
 that I always feel it a blessed thing when tlie Saviour 
 takes me aside from the crowd, as he took the blind 
 man out of the town, and removes the veil, and clears 
 away obscuring mists; and by his word and Spirit 
 leads to deeper peace and a holier walk. Ah ! there 
 is nothing like a calm look into the eternal world to 
 teach us the emptiness of human praise, the sinfulness 
 of self-seeking and vain glory — to teach us the pre- 
 ciousness of Christ, who is called ' The Tried Stone.' 
 I have been able to be twice at College to hear a lec- 
 ture from Dr. Chalmers. I have also been privileged 
 to smooth down the dying pillow of an old school- 
 companion, leading him to a fuller joy and peace in 
 believing. A poor heavy-laden soul, too, from Lar- 
 bert, I have had the joy of leading toward the Saviour. 
 So that even when absent from my work, and when 
 exiled as it were, God allows me to do some little 
 things for his name." 
 
 He was led to look more carefully into this trying 
 dispensation, and began to anticipate blessed results 
 from it to his flock. He was well aware how easily 
 the flock begin to idolize the shepherd, and how 
 prone the shepherd is to feel somewhat pleased with 
 this sinful partiality of his people, and to be uplifted 
 by his success. " I sometimes think," is his remark 
 in a letter, dated January IS, "that a great blessing 
 may come to my people in my absence. Often God 
 does not bless us when we are in the midst of our la- 
 bours, lest we should say, ' My hand and my eloquence 
 
 9* 
 
102 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 have done it.' He removes us into silence, and then 
 pours ^down a blessing so that there is no room to 
 receive it;' so that all that see it cry out, < It is the 
 Lord !' This was the way in the South Sea Islands. 
 May it really be so with my dear people !" Nor did 
 he err in this view of the dispensation. All these 
 ends, and more also, were to be accomplished by it. 
 
 An anticipation like that which is expressed in this 
 and other letters, especially in his Pastoral Letter of 
 March 20, may justly be regarded as a proof from ex- 
 perience that the Lord teaches his people to expect 
 and pray for what he means soon to work. And here 
 the Lord accomplished his designs in the kindest of 
 all ways; for he removed his servant for a season from 
 the flock to which he had been so blessed, lest even 
 his own children should begin to glory in man ; but 
 yet he took that servant to another sphere of labour 
 in the meantime; and then, when the blessing was 
 safely bestowed, brought him back to rejoice over it. 
 
 He was still hoping for, and submissively asking, 
 from the Lord, speedy restoration to his people in 
 Dundee, and occasionally sending to them an epistle 
 that breathed the true pastor's soul; when one day, 
 as he was walking with Dr. Candlish, conversing on 
 the mission to Israel which had lately been resolved 
 on, an idea seemed suddenly suggested to Dr. Cand- 
 lish. He asked Mr. McCheyne what he would think 
 of ^^ being useful to the Jewish cause, during his ces- 
 sation from labour, by going abroad to make personal 
 inquiries into the state of Israel?" The idea, thus 
 suddenly suggested, led to all the after results of the 
 mission of inquiry. Mr. McCheyne found himself 
 all at once called to carry salvatioji to the Jew, as he 
 had hitherto done to the Gentile, and his soul was 
 filled with joy and wonder. His medical friends highly 
 approved of the proposal, as being likely to conduce 
 very much to the removal of his complaints — the 
 calm, steady excitement of such a journey being likely 
 to restore the tone of his whole constitution. 
 
 Dr. Black of Aberdeen readily consented to use his 
 remarkable talents as a scholar in this cause; and Dr. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 103 
 
 Keith intimated his expectation of soon joining the 
 deputation. I also had been chosen to go forth on 
 this mission of love to Israel ; but some difficulties 
 stood in the way of my leaving my charge at Collace. 
 In these circumstances, Mr. McCheyne wrote to me, 
 March 12, from Edinburgh. 
 
 " My Dear A. — I have received so many tokens 
 for good from God in this matter, that it were a shame 
 indeed if I did not trust him to perfect all which con- 
 cerns me. I am glad you have determined to trust 
 all in the hands of Israel's God. I am quite ready to 
 go this week, or next week, but am deeply anxious to 
 be sure that you are sent with me. You know, dear 
 A., I coukl not labour in this cause, nor enjoy it, if 
 you were not to be with me in it. Would you be 
 ready to give your Jewish lecture on the evening of 
 Sabbath week? * ^ * * And now, pray for 
 us, that we may be sent of God ; and, weak as we are, 
 that we may be made Boanerges — that we may be 
 blessed to win some souls, and to stir up Christians to 
 love Zion. Much interest is ah*eady excited, and I do 
 look for a blessing. Speak to your people as on the 
 brink of eternity. "^ * As to books, I am 
 quite at a loss. My Hebrew Bible, Greek Testament, 
 &:c,,and perhaps Bridge's Christian Ministry for gene- 
 ral purposes — I mean, for keeping us in mind of our 
 ministerial work. I do hope we sliall go forth in the 
 Spirit; and though straitened in language, may we 
 not be blessed, as Brainerd was, through an interpre- 
 ter? INIay we not be blessed also to save some Eng- 
 lish, and to stir up missionaries? My healtli is only 
 tolerable; I would be better if we were once away. 
 1 am often so troubled, as to be made willing to go or 
 stay, to die or to live. Yet it is encouraging to be 
 used in the Lord's service again, and in so interesting 
 a manner. What if we should see the heavenly Jeru- 
 salem before the earthly ? I am taking drawing ma- 
 terials, that I may carry away remembrances of the 
 Mount of Olives, Tabor, and the Sea of Galilee.'^ 
 
104 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 The interest that this proposed journey excited in 
 Scotland was very great. Nor was it merely the 
 somewhat romantic interest attached to the land 
 where the Lord had done most of his mighty works; 
 there were also in it the deeper feelings of a scrip- 
 tural persuasion that Israel was still '' beloved for 
 the father's sake." For some time previous, Jeru- 
 salem had come into mind, and many godly pastors 
 were standing as watchmen over its ruined walls, 
 (Isa. Ixii. 6,) stirring up the Lord's remembrancers. 
 Mr. McCheyne had been one of these.""^ His views of 
 the importance of the Jews in the eye of God, and, 
 therefore, of their importance as a sphere of mission- 
 ary labour, were very clear and decided. He agreed 
 in the expectation expressed in one of the course of 
 lectures delivered before the deputation set out, that 
 we might anticipate an outpouring of the Spirit when 
 our Church should stretch out its hands to the Jew 
 as well as to the Gentile. In one letter, he says, 
 " To seek the lost slieep of the house of Israel is an 
 object very near to my heart, as my people know it 
 has ever been. Snch an enterprise may probably 
 draw down unspeakable blessings on the Church of 
 Scotland, according to the promise, ' they shall pros- 
 per who love thee.' " In another, " I now see plainly 
 that all our views about the Jews being the chief 
 object of missionary exertion are plain and sober 
 truths, according to the Scripture." Again, " I feel 
 convinced that if we pray tliat the world may be 
 converted in God's way, we will seek the good of 
 the Jews, and the more we do so, the happier we 
 will be in our own souls. You should always keep 
 up a knowledge of the prophecies regarding Israel." 
 In his preachuig he not un frequently said on this 
 subject, " We should be like God in his peculiar 
 atlections; and the whole Bible shows that God has 
 ever had, and still has, a peculiar love to the Jews." 
 
 The news of his proposed absence alarmed his 
 flock at Dundee. They manifested their care for 
 him more than ever; and not a few wrote expostu- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 105 
 
 latory letters. To one of these well-meant remon- 
 strances, he repUed, "I rejoice exceedingly in the 
 interest you take in me, not so much for my own 
 sake as that I hope it is a sign you know and love 
 the Lord Jesus. Unless God had himself shut up 
 the door of return to my people, and opened this 
 new door to me, I never could have consented to go. 
 I am not at all unwilling to spend and be spent in 
 God's service, though I^have often found that the 
 more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 
 But God has very plainly shown me that I may 
 perform a deeply important work for his ancient 
 people, and at the same time be in the best way of 
 
 seekina: a return of health." *'A minister will 
 
 make a poor saviour in the day of wrath. It is not 
 knowing a minister, or loving one, or hearing one, 
 or having a name to live, that will save. You need 
 to have your hand on the head of the Lamb for your- 
 selves ; Lev. i. 4. You need to have your eye on 
 file brazen serpent for yourselves ; John iii. 14, 15. I 
 fear I will need to be a swift whness against many of 
 my people in the day of the Lord, that they looked to 
 me, and not to Christ, when I preached to them. I 
 always feared that some of you loved to hear the 
 word, who do not love to do it. I always feared 
 there were many of you who loved the Sabbath 
 meetings, and the class, and the Thursday evenings, 
 who yet were not careful to walk with God, to be 
 meek, chaste, holy, loving, harmless, Christ-like, God- 
 like. Now God wants you to think that the only 
 end of a gospel ministry is, that you may be holy. 
 Believe me, God himself could not make you happy, 
 except you be holy." 
 
 At this crisis in his people's history, he sought from 
 the Lord one to supply his place — one who would 
 feed the flock and gather in wanderers during their 
 own pastor's absence. The Lord granted him his de- 
 sire by sending Mr. William C. Burns, son of the mi- 
 nister of Kilsyth. In a letter to him, dated March 
 12th, the following remarkable words occur : — " You 
 are given in answer to prayer, and these gifts are, I 
 
106 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 believe, always without exception blessed. I hope 
 you may be a thousand times more blessed among 
 them than ever I was. Perhaps there are many souls 
 that would never have been saved under my ministry, 
 who may be touched under yours; and God has taken 
 this method of bringing you into my place. His 
 7imne is Wonderful.^ ^ 
 
 Tliis done, and being already disengaged from his 
 flock, he set out for London to make arrangements 
 for the rest of the deputation, who soon after were 
 all sent forth by the bretliren with many prayers. 
 None had more prayers otfered in their behalf than 
 he — and they were not offered in vain. During all 
 his journeyings the Lord strengthened him, and saved 
 him out of all distresses. 
 
 It was a singular event — often still it looks like a 
 dream — that four ministers should be so suddenly call- 
 ed away from their quiet labours in the towns and 
 villages of Scotland, and be found in a few weeks tra- 
 versing the land of Israel, with their Bibles in their 
 hands, eye-witnesses of prophecy fulfilled, and spies of 
 the nakedness of Israel's worship and leanness of soul. 
 The details of that journey need not be given here. 
 They have been already recorded in the *' Narrative 
 of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews, from the Church 
 of Scotland, in 1839." But there are some incidents 
 worthy to be preserved, which could find a place only 
 in such a record of private life and feelings as we are 
 now engaged in. 
 
 When Mr. McCheyne was on board the vessel that 
 carried him to London, he at once discovered an in- 
 teresting young Jew, who seemed, however, unwilling 
 to be recognized as belonging to the seed of Abraham. 
 He made several attempts to draw this young Israelite 
 into close conversation; and before parting, read with 
 him the 1st Psalm in Hebrew, and pressed home the 
 duty of meditating on the word of the Lord. In 
 visilinsr Bethnal Green, he has noted down that it was 
 very sweet to hear Jewish children sing a hymn lO 
 Jesus, the burden of which was u^'?; mja " slain for 
 us!" 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. IO7 
 
 The awful profanation of the holy Sabbath which 
 we witnessed on the streets of Paris, called forth the 
 following appeal, in a letter to Mr. Macdonald of 
 Blairgowrie. His spirit had been stirred in him when 
 he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. " Stand in 
 the breach, dear friend, and lift up your voice like a 
 trumpet, lest Scotland become another France. You 
 know how many in our own parishes trample on 
 the holy day. They do not know how sweet it is to 
 walk with God all that holy day. Isaiah Iviii. 11-14 
 is a sweet text to preach from. Exodus xxxi. 13, 
 is also very precious, showing that the real sanctifying 
 of the Sabbath is one of God's signs or marks which 
 he puts upon his people. It is one of the letters of 
 the new name, which no one knoweth but they who 
 receive it.^^ 
 
 In his brief notes during the first part of the jour- 
 ney, he has seldom failed to mark our seasons of united 
 prayer, such as those in the cabin of the vessel on the 
 passage to Genoa; for these were times of refreshing 
 to his spirit. And his feelings, as he stood in that city, 
 and surveyed its palaces, are expressed in a few lines, 
 which he sent homeward from the spot. "A foreign 
 land draws us nearer God. He is the only one whom 
 we know here. We go to him as to one we know : 
 all else is strange. Every step I take, and every new 
 country I see, makes me feel more that there is nothing 
 real, nothing true, but what is everlasting. The whole 
 world lieth in wickedness : its judgments are fast has- 
 tening. The marble palaces, among which I have 
 been wandering to-night, shall soon sink like a mill- 
 stone in the waters of God's righteous anger; but he 
 that doth the will of God abideth for ever!" 
 
 At Valetta, in the island of Malta, he wrote — ^' My 
 heart beats a little to day, but another sail will do me 
 good. One thing I know, that I am in the hands of 
 my Father in heaven, who is all love to me — not for 
 what I am in myself, but for the beauty he sees in 
 Immanuel." 
 
 The classic shores of Italy and Greece are invested 
 with a peculiar interest, such as may raise deep emo- 
 
 J^ 
 
108 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 tions even in a sanctified soul. " We tried to recol- 
 lect many of the studies of our boyhood. But what 
 is classic learning to us now ? I count all things but 
 loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Je- 
 sus my Lord. And yet these recollections tinged every 
 object, and afforded us a most lawful pleasure." 
 
 During our voyage, it was his delight to search into 
 the Scriptures, just as at home. And so much did he 
 calculate on an unceasing study of the word during 
 all our journey, that he took with him some notes I 
 had written on each chapter of the Book of Leviticus, 
 observing it would be suitable meditation for us while 
 busy with Jewish minds. At home and abroad he 
 had an insatiable appetite for all the word — both for 
 the types of the Old Testament, and the plain text of 
 the New. On one occasion, before leaving home, in 
 studying Numbers iv., he fixed the different duties 
 assigned to the priests on his memory, by means of 
 the followins: lines: — 
 
 " The Kohathites upon their shoulder bear 
 The holy vessels, covered all with care ; 
 The Gershonites receive an easier charge, 
 Two wagons full of cords and curtains large; 
 MerarVs sons four ponderous wagons load 
 With boards and pillars of the house of God." 
 
 He acted on the principle, that whatever God has 
 revealed, must deserve our study and prayerful inves- 
 tigation. 
 
 Arrived at Alexandria, in Egypt, and thence pro- 
 ceeding onward to Palestine by the way of the Desert, 
 we found ourselves set down on a new stage of ex- 
 perience. Mr. McCheyne observed on the silence of 
 the desert places — " It is a remarkable feeling to be 
 quite alone in a desert place ; it give similar feelings 
 to fasting; it brings God near. Living in tents, and 
 moving among such lonely scenes for many days, 
 awake many new ideas. It is a strange life we lead 
 in the wilderness. Round and round there is a com- 
 plete circle of sand and wilderness-shrubs; above, a 
 blue sky without a cloud, and a schorching sun which 
 often made the thermometer stand at 96° in our tents. 
 
 «»> 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 109 
 
 When evening came, the sun went down as it does in 
 the ocean, and the stars came riding forth in their 
 glory ; and we nsed to pitch all alone, with none but 
 our poor ignorant Bedouins and their camels, and our 
 all-knowing, all-loving God beside us. When morning 
 began to dawn, our habitations were taken down. 
 Often we have found ourselves shelterless before be- 
 ing fully dressed. What a type of the last of our 
 body! Ah! how often taken down before the soul is 
 made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light." 
 To Mr. Bonar of Larbert he writes : "I had no idea 
 that travelling in the wilderness was so dreadful a 
 thing as it is. The loneliness I often felt quite solemn- 
 ized me. The burning sun over head — round and 
 round a circle of barren sand, chequered only by a few 
 prickly shrubs (nhe heath of the wilderness,' of which 
 Jeremiah speaks)— no rain, not a cloud, the wells 
 often like that of Marah, and far between. I now 
 understand well the murmurings of Israel. I feel that 
 our journey proved and tried my own heart very 
 much." When we look back, and remember that he 
 who thus stands on the sandy desert road between 
 Egypt and Palestine, and looks on its singular scenery, 
 is one who but lately was to be found busy night and 
 day in dealing with the souls of men in the densely 
 peopled streets of the town teeming with population, 
 we are led to wonder at the ways of the Lord. But 
 is it not a moment that may remind us^ that the God 
 who sent Elijah to the brook at Cherith, is the same 
 God still? and the wise, considerate, loving Master, 
 Avho said, " Come into a desert place and rest awhile," 
 is as loving, considerate, and wise as he was then ? 
 
 At Balteen, a small village in Egypt, I well remem- 
 ber the indignation that fired his countenance when 
 our Arab attendants insisted on our travelling onward 
 on the Sabbath-day, rather than sitting under a few 
 palm trees, breathing a sultry, furnace-like atmos- 
 phere, with nothing more than just such supply of 
 food as sufficed. He could not bear the thought of 
 being deprived of the Sabbath-rest; it was needful for 
 our souls as much in the wilderness as in the crowded 
 
 10 
 
110 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 city; and if few glorify God in tliat desolate land, so 
 much the more were we called on to fill these soli- 
 tudes with our songs of praise. It was in this light 
 he viewed our position ; and when we had prevailed, 
 and were seated under the palms, he was excited to 
 deep emotion, though before quite unnerved by the 
 heat, at the sight of a row of poor wretched Egyptians, 
 who gathered round us. " that I could speak their 
 language, and tell them of salvation!" was his impas- 
 sioned wish. 
 
 An event occurred at that time in which the hand 
 of God afterwards appeared very plain, though it 
 then seemed very dark to us. Dr. Black fell from his 
 camel in the midst of the sandy desert, and none of all 
 our company could conjecture what bearing on the 
 object of our Mission this sad occurrence could have. 
 Is it a frown on our undertaking? or can it really be 
 a movement of His kind, guiding hand? We often 
 spoke of it ; in our visit to Galilee we thought we saw 
 some purposes evolving; but there was still some- 
 thing unexplained. Now, however, the reason ap- 
 pears ; even that event was of the Lord, in wise and 
 Idnd design. But for that fall, our fathers in the 
 deputation would not have sailed up the Danube on 
 their way to Vienna, and Pesth would not have been 
 visited. This accident, which mainly disabled Dr. 
 Black from undertaking the after fatigue of exploring 
 Galilee, Avas the occasion of directing the steps of our 
 two fathers to that station, where a severe stroke of 
 sickness was made the means of detaining Dr. Keith 
 till they had learned that there was an open door 
 among the Jews. And there, accordingly, it has been 
 that the Lord has poured down his spirit on the Jews 
 that have come to our missionaries, so remarkably 
 that no Jewish mission seems ever to have been 
 blessed with deeper conversions. There is nothing 
 but truth in the remark made by one of our number : 
 " Dr. Black's fall from the camel was the first step 
 toward Pesth." " Whoso is wise, and will observe 
 these things, even they shall understand the loving- 
 kindness of the Lord;" Psalm cvii. 42. Indeed, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. HI 
 
 whether it was we were prepared to expect, and there- 
 fore were peculiarly ready to observe, or whether it 
 was really the case that the watchful eye of our Lord 
 specially guided us, certain it is that we thought we 
 could perceive the whole course we took signally 
 marked by Providence. There were many prayers 
 in Scotland ascending up in our behalf, and the High 
 Priest gave the answer by shining upon our path. 
 Mr. McCheyne has stated — '' For much of our safety 
 I feel indebted to the prayers of my people, I mean 
 the Christians among them, who do not forget us. If 
 the veil of the world's machinery were lifted off, how 
 much we would find is done in answer to the prayers 
 of God's children!" 
 
 jNIany things lost somewhat of their importance in 
 our view when examined amid the undistracted re- 
 flections of the long desert journey, where for many 
 days we had quiet, like the quiet of death, around us 
 all night long, and even during the bright day. It 
 is the more interesting, on this very account, to 
 know his feelings there on the subject of the ministry. 
 As his camel slowly bore him over the soft sandy 
 soil, much did he ruminate on the happy days when 
 he was permitted to use all his strength in preaching 
 Jesus to dying men. " Use your health while you 
 have it, my dear friend and brother. Do not cast 
 away peculiar opportunities that may never come 
 again. You know not when your last Sabbath with 
 your people may come. Speak for eternity. Above 
 all things, cultivate your own spirit. A word spoken 
 by you when your conscience is clear, and your heart 
 full of God's Spirit, is worth ten thousand words 
 spoken in unbelief and sin. This was my great fault 
 in the ministry. Remember it is God, and not man, 
 that must have the glory. It is not much speaking, 
 but much faith, that is needed. Do not forget us. 
 Do' not forget the Saturday-night meeting, nor the 
 Monday-morning thanksgiving.'^ Thus he wrote on 
 his way, to a fellow-labourer in Scotland. 
 
 The first Sabbath in the Holy Land our tent had 
 been pitched in the vicinity of a colony of ants. It 
 
1 1 2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 was in the tribe of Simeon we were encamped ; it 
 was the scenery of the Promised Land we hadaromid 
 us ; and one of the simiUtudes of the blessed word 
 was ihustrated within our view. He opened his 
 Bible at Prov. vi. 6-8, and, as he read, noted — " I. 
 Consider her ivays. Most souls are lost for want of 
 consideration. II. The ant has no guide, overseer, 
 or ruler : no officer, no one to command or encourage 
 her. How difterently situated is the child of God. 
 HI. Provideth her meat in the summer, &c. Some 
 have thought that this teaches us to heap up money ; 
 but quite the reverse. The ant lays up no store for 
 the future. It is all for present use. She is always 
 busy summer and winter. The lesson is one of con- 
 stant diligence in the Lord's work.'' 
 
 Many a time in these days, when our attendants 
 in the evening were driving in the stakes of our tent 
 and stretching its cords, he would lie down on the 
 ground under some tree that sheltered him from the 
 dew. Completely exhausted by the long day's ride, 
 he would lie almost speechless for half an hour; and 
 then, when the palpitation of his heart had a little 
 abated, would propose that we two should pray to- 
 gether. Often, too, did he say to me, when thus 
 stretched on the ground — not impatiently, but very 
 earnestly — "Shall I ever preach to my people again?" 
 I was often reproved by his unabated attention to 
 personal holiness ; for this care was never absent 
 from his mind, whether he was at home in his quiet 
 chamber, or on the sea, or in the desert. Holiness 
 in him was manifested, not by efforts to perform 
 duty, but in a way so natural, that you recognized 
 therein the easy outflowing of the indwelling Spirit. 
 The fountain springing up unto everlasting life (John 
 iv. 14) in his soul, welled forth its living waters alike 
 in the famihar scenes of his native Scotland, and 
 under the olive-trees of Palestine. Prayer and medi- 
 tation on the word were never forgotten; and a peace 
 that the world could not give kept his heart and 
 mind. Wlien we were detained a day at Gaza, in 
 very tantalizing circumstances, his remark was, "«/e- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 113 
 
 hovah Jireh; we are at that mount again." It was 
 sweet at any time to be with him, for both nature 
 and grace in him drew the very heart; but there 
 were moments of enjoyment in these regions of Pales- 
 tine that drew every cord still closer, and created 
 unknown sympathies. Such was that evening when 
 we climbed Samson's Hill together. Sitting there, 
 we read over the references to the place in the word 
 of God ; and then he took out his pencil and sketched 
 the scene, as the sun was sinking in the west. This 
 done, we sang some verses of a Psalm, appropriate 
 to the spot, offered up prayer, and, slowly descending, 
 conversed of all we saw, and of all that was brought 
 to mind by the scenery around us, till we reached 
 our tent. 
 
 In approaching Jerusalem, we came up the Pass 
 of Latroon. He writes, "The last day's journey to 
 Jerusalem was the finest I ever had in all my life. 
 For four hours we were ascending the rocky pass 
 upon our patient camels. It was like the finest of 
 our Highland scenes, only the trees and flowers, and 
 the voice of the turtle, told us that it was ImmanuePs 
 land." Riding along, he remarked, that to have 
 seen the Plain of Judea and this mountain-pass, was 
 enough to reward us for all our fatigue ; and then 
 began to call up passages of the Old Testament scrip- 
 tures which might seem to refer to such scenery as 
 that before us. 
 
 During our ten days at Jerusalem, there were few 
 objects within reach that we did not eagerly seek to 
 visit. "We stood at the turning of the road where 
 Jesus came near, and beheld the city, and wept over 
 it. And if we had had more of the mind that was 
 in Jesus, I think we should have wept also." This 
 was his remark in a letter homeward; and to Mr. 
 Bonar of Larbert, he expressed his feelings in re- 
 gard to the Mount of Olives and its vicinity: "I 
 remember, the day when I saw you last, you said, 
 that there were other discoveries to be made than 
 those in the physical world — that there were sights 
 to be seen in the spiritual world, and depths to be 
 
 10^ 
 
114 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 penetrated, of far greater importance. I have often 
 thought of the truth of your remark. But if there is 
 a place on earth where physical scenery can help us 
 to discover divine things, I think it is Mount Olivet. 
 Getlisemane at your feet leads your soul to meditate 
 on Christ's love and determination to undergo divine 
 wrath for us. The cup was set before him there, 
 and there he said, ' Shall I not drink it?' The spot 
 where he wept makes you think of his divine com- 
 passion, mingling with his human tenderness — his 
 awful justice that would not spare the city, his 
 superhuman love that wept over its coming misery ! 
 Turning the other way, and looking to the south- 
 east, you see Bethany, reminding you of his love to 
 his own — that his name is love — that in all our afflic- 
 tions he is afflicted — that those who are in their 
 graves shall one day come forth at his command. 
 A little further down vou see the Dead Sea, stretch- 
 mg far among the mountains its still and sullen 
 waters. This deepens and solemnizes all, and makes 
 you go away, saying, ^ How shall we escape, if we 
 neglect so great salvation ?' " 
 
 He wrote to another friend in Scotland, from Mount 
 Zion, where we were then dwelling. 
 
 "Mount Zion, June 12, 1839. 
 
 " My Dear Friend, — Now that we are in the most 
 wonderful spot in all this world — where Jesus lived, 
 and walked, and prayed, and died, and will come 
 again— I doubt not you will be anxious to hear how 
 we come on. I am thankful that ever he privileged 
 us to come to this land. I heard of my flock yester- 
 day by a letter from home — the first I have received, 
 dated 8th May. * * * We are living 
 in one of the missionaries' houses on Mount Zion. 
 My window looks out upon where the temple was, 
 the beautiful Mount of Olives rising behind. The 
 Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of 
 Zion. — Yours," &c. 
 
 One evening, after our visit to Sychar, he referred 
 to the Bible which I had dropped in Jacob's Well. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 115 
 
 We were then resting from our journey in our tents. 
 Soon after, he penned on a leaf of his note-book the 
 following fragment: 
 
 " My own loved Bible, must I part from thee, 
 Companion of my toils hy land and sea; 
 Man of my counsels, soother of distress, 
 Guide of my steps tlirough this world's wilderness! 
 In darkest nights, a lantern to my feet ; 
 In gladsome days, as dropping honey sweet. 
 When first I parted from my quiet home, 
 At thy command, for Israel's good to roam, 
 Thy gentle voice said, ' For Jerusalem pray, 
 So shall Jehovah prosper all thy way.' 
 When througli the lonely wilderness we strayed. 
 Sighing in vain for palm-trees' cooling shade. 
 Thy words of comfort hushed each rising fear, 
 'The shadow of thy mighty Rock is near.' 
 And when we pitched our tent on Judah's hills, 
 Or thoughtful mused beside Siloa's rills ; 
 Whene'er we climbed Mount Olivet, to gaze 
 Upon the sea, where stood in ancient days 
 
 The heaven-struck Sodom 
 
 Sweet record of the past, to faith's glad eyes. 
 Sweet promiser of glories yet to rise !"* 
 
 At the foot of Carmel, during the seven days we 
 were in quarantine under the brow of the hill, there 
 was time to recall many former scenes ; and in these 
 circumstances, he wrote the hymn, " The Fountain 
 of Silomn.^' 
 
 Here, too, he had leisure to write home ; and most 
 graphically does he describe our journey from Alex- 
 andria onward. 
 
 "Carmel, June 26, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Father, Mother, &c., — It is a long 
 time since I have been able to write to you— this be- 
 ing the very first time since leaving Egypt that any 
 one has appeared to carry letters for us. I must, 
 therefore, begin by telling you that, by the good hand 
 of our God upon me, I am in excellent health, and 
 have been ever since I wrote you last. Fatigues we 
 have had many, and much greater than I anticipated; 
 
 * It is a somewhat curious occurrence, that the remnants of this 
 Bible were found, and drawn up from the bottom of the well, in July 
 1843, by Dr. "VVilson and his fellow-traveller, who employed a Samari- 
 tan from Sychar to descend and examine the well. 
 
116 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 hardships and dangers we have also encountered, but 
 God has brought us all safely through and in fully 
 better condition than when we began. You must not 
 imagine that I have altogether lost the palpitation of 
 my heart, for it often visits me to humble and prove 
 me; still I believe it is a good deal better than it was, 
 and its visits are not nearly so frequent. I hope very 
 much, that in a cold bracing climate, and with less 
 fatigue, I may, perhaps, not feel it at all. I was very 
 thankful to receive your letter, dated 8th May — the 
 first since leaving home. I was delighted to hear of 
 your health and safety, and of the peaceful commu- 
 nion at St. Peter's. The public news was alarming 
 and humbling.* I suppose I had better begin at the 
 beginning, and go over all our journeyings from the 
 land of Egypt through the howling wilderness to this 
 sweet land of promise. I would have written jour- 
 nalwise (as my mother would say) from time to time, 
 so that I might have had an interesting budget of news 
 ready ; but you must remember it is a more fatiguing 
 thing to ride twelve or fourteen hours on a camel's 
 back in a sandy wilderness, than in our home excur- 
 sions; and I could often do nothing more than lie 
 down on my rug and fall asleep. 
 
 ^' We left Alexandria on 16th May, 1839, parting 
 from many kind friends in that strange city. We and 
 our baggage were mounted on seventeen donkeys, 
 like the sons of Jacob, when they carried corn out of 
 Egypt. Our saddle was our bedding, viz., a rug to 
 lie on, a pillow for the head, and a quilt to wrap our- 
 selves in. We afterwards added a straw mat to put 
 below all. We had procured two tents — one large, 
 and a smaller one which Andrew and I occupy. The 
 donkeys are nice nimble little animals, going about 
 five miles an hour; a wild Arab accompanies each 
 donkey. We have our two Arab servants to whom 
 I now introduce you — Ibrahim, a handsome small- 
 made Egyptian, and Achmet the cook, a dark good- 
 natured fellow, with a white turban and bare black 
 legs. Ibrahim speaks a little English and Italian, and 
 
 * He alludes here to the decision of the House of Lords in the Auch- 
 terarder case. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. II7 
 
 Acbmet, Italian — in addition to their native Arabic. 
 I soon made friends with our Arab donkey-men, 
 learning Arabic words and phrases from them, which 
 pleased them greatly. We journeyed by the Bay of 
 Aboukir, close by the sea, which tempered the air of 
 the desert. At night we reached Rosetta, a curious 
 half-inhabited eastern town. We saw an eastern 
 marriage, which highly pleased us, illustrating the 
 parables. It was by torch-light. We slept in the 
 convent. 17th, — Spent morning in Rosetta: gave the 
 monk a New Testament. Saw some of Egyptian 
 misery in the bazaar. Saw the people praying in the 
 mosque, Friday being the Moslem's day of devotion. 
 In the evening we crossed the Nile in small l^ats. It 
 is a fine river; and its water, when filtered, is sweet 
 and pleasant. We often thought upon it in the 
 desert. We slept that night on the sand, in onr tents, 
 by the sea-shore. ISth, — In six hours we came to 
 Bourlos (you will see it in the map of the Society for 
 diftusing Useful Knowledge): were ferried across. 
 Watched the fishermen casting their nets into the sea: 
 hot. — hot. In two hours more, through a palmy wil- 
 .derness, we came to Balteen — "the Vale of Figs" — 
 an Arab village of mud huts. You little know what 
 an Arab house is. In general, in Egypt, it is an ex- 
 act square box, made of mud, with a low hole for a 
 door. The furniture is a mat and cooking things; and 
 an oven made of mud. 1 9th, — Spent our Sabbath un- 
 occupied in midst of the village; the poor Arabs have 
 no Sabbath, The thermometer 84° in tent. The 
 governor called in the evening and drank a cup of tea 
 with great relish. The heat we felt much all day ; 
 still it was sweet to rest and remember you all in the 
 wilderness. 20th, — At twelve at night, left Balteen 
 by beautiful moonlight. Proceeding through a plea- 
 sant African wild of palms and brushwood, we reached 
 the sea in two hours, and rode along, its waves wash- 
 ing our feet — very sleepy. We got a rest at mid-day, 
 if rest it could be called, under that scorching sun, 
 which I never will forget. Proceeding onward, at 
 three o'clock we left the sea-shore, and perceived the 
 
lis MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 minarets of Damietta. Before us the mirage cheated 
 us often when we were very thirsty. We crossed the 
 Nile again, a much smaller branch — the only remaining 
 one — and soon found ourselves comfortably reclining 
 on the divan of the British Consul, an Egyptian gen- 
 tleman of some fortune and manners. He entertained 
 us at supper in true Egyptian style ; provided a room 
 for us, where we spread our mats in peace. We 
 spent the whole of the next day here, having sent off 
 a Bedouin to have camels ready for us at San. The 
 consul entertained us in the same Egyptian style of 
 hospitality, and sent us away the next day on board 
 
 of a barge upon Lake Menzaleh. 22d, — Even E 
 
 would not have been afraid to sail upon that lake. It 
 is nowhere more than ten feet deep, and in general 
 only four or five. We made an awning with our 
 mats, and spent a very happy day. At evening we 
 entered a canal among immense reeds. In moonlight 
 the scene was truly romantic : we slept moored to the 
 shore all night. Next morning (23d) we reached San 
 about ten. This evening and next morning we spent 
 in exploring the ruins of the ancient Zoan,for this we 
 find is the very spot. 
 
 " Wandering along we were quite surprised to find 
 great mounds of brick, and pottery, and vitrified 
 stones. Andrew at last came upon beautiful obelisks. 
 Next morning we examined all carefully, and found 
 two sphinxes and many Egyptian obelisks. How 
 wonderful to be treadina^ over the ruins of the ancient 
 capital of Egypt I Isaiah xix. 12, "Wliere are the 
 Princes of Zoan?" Ezek. xxx. 14, "God has set fire 
 in Zoan." This is the very place where Joseph was 
 sold as a slave, and where JMoscs did his wonders, 
 Psalm Ixxviii. 43. This was almost tlie only place 
 where we have been in danger from the inhabitants. 
 They are a wild race; and our Arabs were afraid of 
 them. You would have been afraid too, if you had 
 seen, out of the door of our tent, our Bedouins keep- 
 ing watch all night with tlicir naked sabres gleaming 
 in the moonlight, firing off their gims now and then, 
 and keeping up a low chant to keep one another 
 
REV, R. M. McCHEYNE. 1 1 g 
 
 awake. No evil happened to us, and we feel that 
 many pray for us, and that God is with us. 24th, — 
 This day our journeyings on camels commenced, and 
 continued till we came to Jerusalem. It is a strange 
 mode of conveyance. You have seen a camel kneel- 
 ing; it is in this condition that you mount; suddenly 
 it rises first on its fore feet, and then on its hind feet. 
 It requires great skill to hold yourself on during this 
 operation; one time I was thrown fairly over its head, 
 hut quite unhurt. When you find yourself exalted on 
 the hunch of a camel, it is somewhat of the feelins: of 
 an*aeronaut, as if you were bidding farewell to sublu- 
 nary things; but when he begins to move, with 
 solemn pace and slow, you are reminded of your 
 terrestrial origin, and that a wrong balance or turn 
 to the side will soon bring you down from your giddy 
 height. You have no stirrup, and generally only your 
 bed for your saddle ; you may either sit as on horse- 
 back, or as on a side-saddle — the latter is the plea- 
 santer, though not the safer of the two. The camel 
 goes about three miles an hour, and the step is so long** 
 that the motion is quite peculiar. You bend your head 
 toward your knees every step. With a vertical sun 
 above and a burning sand below, you may believe it 
 is a very fatiguing mode of journeying. However, 
 we thought of Rebecca and Abraham's servant (Gen. 
 xxiv.),and listened with delight to the wild Bedouins' 
 plaintive song. That night, 24th, we slept at Mena- 
 gie, a Bedouin mud village — palm trees and three 
 wells, and an ocean of sand, formed the only objects 
 of interest. 25th, — Up by sunrise, and proceeded as 
 before. The only event this day was Dr. Black's fall 
 from his camel, which greatly alarmed us. He had 
 fallen asleep, which you are very apt to do : we en- 
 camped and used every restorative, so that we were 
 able to proceed the same evening to Gonatre, a miser- 
 able Arab post, having a governor; not a tree. 26th, — 
 The Sabbath dawned sweetly ; thermometer 92° in 
 tent ; could only lie on the mat and read Psalms. 
 Evening — Gathered governor and Bedouins to hear 
 some words of eternal life, Ibrahim interpreting. 
 
120 3IEM0IR OF THE 
 
 27th, — Two very long stages brought ns to Katieh ; 
 tliankful to God for his goodness while we pitched by 
 the date trees. 2Sth, — Spent the day at Katieh ; inter- 
 esting interviews with the governor, a kind Arab ; 
 thermometer 96° in tent. Same evening, proceeded 
 through a greener desert, among flocks of goats and 
 sheep, and encamped by a well, Bir-el-Abd. 29th, — 
 Another hot day in the desert; came in sight of the 
 sea, which gave us a refreshing breeze ; bathed in a 
 salt lake as hot as a warm bath. Evening — Encamp- 
 ment at Abugilbany. 30th, — This was our last day 
 in the Egyptian wilderness. We entered on a much 
 more mountainous region. The heat very great ; we 
 literally panted for a breath of wind. Tfie Bedouins 
 begged handkerchiefs to cover their heads, and often 
 cast themselves under a bush for shade. Towards 
 sunset, we came down on the old ruins of Rhinoco- 
 lura, now buried in the sand ; and soon after our 
 camels kneeled down at the gates of El Arish, the 
 last town on the Egyptian frontier. 31st, — We spent 
 in El Arish, being unable to get fresh camels. We 
 bought a sheep for five shillings; drank freely of 
 their delightful water ; what a blessing after the 
 desert. Found out the river of Egypt, the boundary 
 of Judah mentioned in the Bible, quite dry. June 1st, 
 —Visited the school, a curiosity; all the children sit 
 cross-legged on the floor, rocking to and fro, repeat- 
 ing something in Arabic. We had a curious inter- 
 view with the governor, sitting in the gate in the 
 ancient manner. We are quite expert now at taking 
 oft' our shoes and sitting in the Eastern mode. Smok- 
 ing, and cofl*ee in very small cups, are the constant 
 accompaniments of these visits. Left the same even- 
 ing, and did not reach Sheikh Juidhe, in the land of 
 the Philistines, till the sun was nearly bursting into 
 view. 2d, — Spent a happy Sabbath here ; sung ••'In 
 Judah's land God is well known." Singing praises 
 in our tents is very sweet, they are so frail, like our 
 mortal bodies ; they rise easily into the ears of our 
 present Father. Our journey through the land of 
 the Philistines was truly pleasant. 3d, — We went 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 121 
 
 through a fine pasture country ; immense straths ; 
 flocks of sheep and goats, and asses and camels, often 
 came in sight. This is the very way up out of Egypt, 
 httle changed from the day that the Ethiopian went 
 on his way rejoicing, and Joseph and Mary carried 
 down the babe from the anger of Herod. Little 
 changed, did I say ? it is all changed; no more is 
 there one brook of water. Every river of Egypt — 
 Wady, Gaza, Eshcol, Sorek — every brook we crossed, 
 was dried up, not a drop of water. Tlie land is 
 changed ; no more is it the rich land of Philistia. 
 The sand struggles with the grass for mastery. 
 The cities are changed — where are they ? The peo- 
 ple are changed — no more the bold Philistines — no 
 more the children of Simeon — no more Isaac and his 
 herdsmen — no more David and his horsemen ; but 
 miserable Arab shepherds — simple people, without 
 ideas — poor, degraded, fearful. Khanounes was the 
 first town we entered — Scripture name unknown. 
 The burying-ground outside the town. The well, 
 and people coming to draw, were objects of great 
 interest to us. The people were highly entertained 
 with us in return. We sat down in the bazaar, and 
 were a spectacle to all. How much we longed to 
 have the Arabic tongue, that we might preach the 
 unsearchable riches of Christ in God's own land. 
 Same evening, we heard the cry of the wolf, and 
 encamped two miles from Gaza. The plague was 
 raging, so we did not enter, but spent a delightful 
 day in comparing its condition with God's word con- 
 cerning it — " Baldness is come upon Gaza." The 
 old city is buried under sand hills, without a blade of 
 grass, so that it is bald indeed. The herds and flocks 
 are innumerable, fulfilling Zeph ii. ; Andrew and I 
 climbed the hill up which Samson carried the gates. 
 5th, — Passed through a fine olive grove for many 
 miles, and entered the vale of Eshcol. The people 
 were all in the fields cutting and bringing in their 
 barley. They reap with the hook as we do. They 
 seem to carry in at same time upon camels. No 
 vines in Eshcol now — no pomegranates ; but some 
 
 11 
 
122 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 green fig-trees. Crossed the brook Sorek — dry. 
 Spent the mid-day under the embowering shade of a 
 fig-tree ; tasted the apricots of the good land. Same 
 evening we came to Doahs, which we take to be 
 Eshtaol, where Samson was born. 6th, — We went dne 
 east, and, after a mountain pass, saw the hills of 
 Judah — an immense plain intervening, all studded 
 with little towns. From their namies, we found out 
 many Bible spots. This valley or plain is the very 
 vale of Zephathah, of which you read in 2 Chronicles 
 chap, xiv — in the plain of Sephela." Before night 
 we entered among the hills of Judah — very like 
 our own highlands — and slept all night among 
 the mountains, at a deserted village called Latroon. 
 7th, — One of the most privileged days of our life. 
 We broke up our tents by moonlight; soon the sun 
 was up; we entered a defile of the most romantic 
 character: wild rocks and verdant hills, — wild flowers 
 of every colour and fragrance scented our path. Some- 
 times we came upon a clump of beautiful olive trees, 
 then wild again. The turtle's voice was heard in the 
 land, and singing birds of sweetest note. Our camels 
 carried us up this pass for four hours; and our tur- 
 baned Bedouins added by their strange figures to the 
 scene. The terracing of all the hills is the most re- 
 markable feature of Judean scenery. Every foot of 
 the rockiest mountains may, in this way, be covered 
 with vines. We thought of Isaiah v/andering here, 
 and David and Solomon. Still all was wilderness. 
 The hand of man had been actively employed upon 
 every mountain, but where were these labourers now? 
 Judah is gone into captivity before the enemy. There 
 are few men left in the land; not a vine is there. 
 *' The vine languisheth." We came down upon 
 Garieh, a village embosomed in figs and pomegran- 
 ates. Ascending again, we came down into the val- 
 ley of Elah, where David slew Goliath. Another long 
 and steep ascent of a most rugged hill, brought us 
 into a strange scene — a desert of sun-burnt rocks. I 
 had read of this, and knew that Jerusalem was near. 
 I left my camel and went before, hurrying over tlie 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 123 
 
 burning rocks. In about half an hour Jerusalem 
 came in sight. " How doth the city sit solitary that 
 was fall of people I" Is tliis the perfection of beauty? 
 "How hath the Lord covered the daughters of Zion 
 with a cloud in his anger !" It is, indeed, very deso- 
 late. Read the two first chapters of Lamentations, 
 and you have a vivid picture of our first sight of Jeru- 
 salem. We lighted olf our camels within the Jafi'a 
 gate. Among those that crowded round us, we ob- 
 served several Jews. I think I had better not attempt 
 to tell you about Jerusalem. There is so much to 
 describe, and I know not where to begin. The Con- 
 sul, Mr. Young, received us most kindly, provided 
 us a house where we might spread our mats, and 
 helped us in every way. Mr. Nicolayson called the 
 same evening, and insisted on our occupying one of 
 the mission-houses on Mount Zion. The plague is 
 still in Jerusalem, so that we must keep ourselves 
 in quarantine. The plague only communicates by 
 contact, so that we are not allowed to touch any one, 
 or let any one touch us. Every night we heard the 
 mourners going about the streets with their dismal 
 wailings for the dead. On Sabbath, Mr. Nicolayson 
 read the prayers, and Dr. Black preached from Isaiah 
 ii. 2. Dr. Keith in the evening. Three converted 
 Jews were among the hearers. On Monday 10th 
 we visited the sepulchre, and a painful sight, where 
 we can find no traces of Calvary, Same evening 
 rode up to the Mount of Olives; past Gethsemane, a 
 most touching spot. Visited Sir Moses Montefiore, a 
 Jew of London, encamped on Mount Olivet; very 
 kind to us. 11th, — Went round the most of the 
 places to be visited near Jerusalem — Rephaim, Gihon, 
 Siloa's Brook "that flowed fast by the Oracle of God;" 
 the Pool of Siloam — the place where Jesus wept over 
 the city of Bethany — of all places my favourite — the 
 tombs of the kings. Such a day we never spent in this 
 world before. The climate is truly delightful — hot at 
 mid-day, but delightful breezes at morn and even. 
 12th, — A business day, getting information about 
 Jews. In the evening, walked to Aceldama — a dread- 
 
124 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 ful spot. Zion is ploughed like a field. I gathered 
 some barley, and noticed cauliflowers planted in rows. 
 See Micah iii. 12. Jerusalem is, indeed, heaps. The 
 quantities of rubbish would amaze you — in one place 
 higher than the walls. 13th, — We went to Hebron, 
 twenty miles south; Mr. Nicolayson, his son, the con- 
 sul, and ladies, accompanying us, all on mules and 
 horses. Judah's cities are all waste. Except Bethle- 
 hem, we saw none but ruins till we reached Hebron. 
 The vines are beautifully cultivated here, and make it 
 a paradise. The hills all terraced to the top. We spent 
 a delightful evening and all next day. We met the 
 Jews and had an interestins: interview with them. 
 We read Genesis xviii., and many other Bible pas- 
 sages, with great joy. Saw the mosques where the 
 tomb of Abraham and Sarah is. 14th, — Returned by 
 Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Bethlehem is a sweet vil- 
 lage, placed on the top of a rocky hill — very white 
 and dazzling. You see it on both sides of the hill. 
 At Rachel's sepulchre you see Jerusalem on one hand 
 and Bethlehem on the other, an interesting sight — six 
 miles apart. On Sabbath we enjoyed the Lord's 
 Supper in an upper chamber in Jerusalem. It was 
 a time much to be remembered. Andrew preached 
 in the evening from John xiv. 2, 3. 17th, — The 
 plague has been increasing, so that we think it better 
 lo depart. Last visit to Gethsemane, and Bethany, 
 and Siloam. Evening, — Took farewell of all our 
 friends in Jerusalem, with much sorrow, you may be- 
 lieve. Went due north to Ramah, by Gibeon, and 
 slept at Beer, again in our tent, in Benjamin. 19th, — 
 Passed Bethel where Jacob slept. Passed through 
 the rich and rocky defile of Ephraim, by Lebonah, to 
 Sychar. You cannot believe what a delightsome land 
 it is. We sought anxiously for the well where Jesus 
 sat. Andrew alone found it, and lost his Bible in it. 
 20th, — Had a most interesting morning with the Jews 
 of Sychar. Saw many of them; also the Samaritans, 
 in their synagogue. Same evening visited Samaria, 
 a wonderful place, and encamped at Sanour. 21st, — 
 Arrived at Carmel, where we now are, encamped 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. ■ I05 
 
 within two yards of the sea. We have been in quaran- 
 tine here seven days, as there is no plague north of 
 this. Several English are encamped here — Lord R., 
 Lord H., &c. We have daily conversations sitting on 
 the sand. We are not allowed to touch even the rope 
 of a tent. Acre is in sight across the bay. We have 
 delightful bathing. To-morrow Lord H. leaves, and 
 kindly offers to take this. Carmel's rocky brow is 
 over us. We are all well and happy. On Monday, 
 we propose leaving for Tiberias and Saphet. Soon 
 we shall be in Beyrout, and on our way to Smyrna. 
 Do not be anxious for me. Trust us to God, who goes 
 with us where we go. I only pray that our mission 
 may be blessed to Israel. Sir Moses M. has arrived, 
 and pitched his tent within fifty yards of us. Kindest 
 regards to all that inquire after me, not forgetting dear 
 W. — Your affectionate son," &c. 
 
 When the two elder brethren of the deputation left 
 us for Europe, we turned southward again from Bey- 
 rout to visit the regions of Phoenicia and Galilee. 
 Never did Mr. McCheyne seem more gladsome than 
 in gazing on these regions. 
 
 At Tyre, he remembered the request of an elder in 
 the parish of Larbert, who had written to him before 
 his departure, stating a difficulty in the usual exposi- 
 tions of the prophecies in regard to that renowned city. 
 With great dehght, he examined the difficulty on the 
 spot; and it is believed that his testimony on such 
 points as these, when it reached some men of scepti- 
 cal views in that scene of his early labours, was not 
 unblest. 
 
 From Saphet he writes: — "I sat looking down 
 upon the lake this morning for about an hour. It 
 was just at our feet — the very water where Jesus 
 walked, where he called his disciples, where he re- 
 buked the storm, where he said, ' Children, have ye 
 any meat ?' after he rose from the dead. Jesus is 
 the same still.'- To his early and familiar friend, JNIr. 
 Somerville, he thus describes the same view : — '• 
 what a view of the Sea of Galilee is before you, at 
 
 11^ 
 
120 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 your feet ! It is above three hours' descent to the 
 water^s edge, and yet it looks as if you could run 
 down in as many minutes. The lake is much larger 
 than I had imagined. It is hemmed in by mountains 
 on every side, sleeping as calmly and softly as if it had 
 been the sea of glass which John saw in heaven. We 
 tried in vain to follow the coarse of the Jordan run- 
 ning through it. True, there were clear lines, such as 
 you see in the wake of a vessel, but then these did 
 not go straight through the lake. The hills of Bashan 
 are very high and steep, where they run into the lake. 
 At one point, a man pointed out to us where the tombs 
 in the rocks are, where the demoniacs used to live; 
 and near it the hills were exactly what the Scriptures 
 describe, * a steep place,' where the swine ran down 
 into the sea. On the north-east of the sea, Hermon 
 rises very grand, intersected with many ravines full 
 of snow." 
 
 The day we spent at the lake — at the very water- 
 side — was ever memorable ; it was so peculiarly sweet. 
 We felt an indescribable interest even in lifting a shell 
 from the shore of a sea where Jesus had so often 
 walked. It was here that two of the beautiful hymns 
 in '■^The Songs of Zion,^^ were suggested to him. 
 The one was, " Hoiv pleasant to me,^' &iQ.., the other, 
 " To yonder side;^^ but the latter lay beside him un- 
 finished till a later period. 
 
 His complaint was now considerably abated; his 
 strength seemed returning; and often did he long to 
 be among his people again, though quieting his soul 
 upon the Lord. Not a few pastors of another church 
 have, from time to time, come forth to this land, com- 
 pelled by disease to seek for health in foreign regions: 
 but how rarely do we find the pastor's heart retained 
 — how rarely do we discover that the shepherd yearns 
 still over the flock he left! But so deep was Mr. 
 McCheyne's feelings toward the flock over which the 
 Holy Ghost had. made him overseer, that his concern 
 for them became a temptation to his soul. It was not 
 in the mere desire to preach again that he manifested 
 this concern; for this desire might have been selfish, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I07 
 
 as he said — " No doubt there is pride in this anxiety 
 to preach; a submissive soul would rejoice only in 
 doing the present will of God." But his prayers for 
 them went up daily to the throne. We had precious 
 seasons of united prayer also for that same end — 
 especially one morning at sun-rise in Gethsemane,and 
 another morning at Carmel, where we joined in sup- 
 plication on the silent shore at the foot of the hill as 
 soon as day dawned, and then again at evening on the 
 top, where Elijah pra^^ed. 
 
 Distance of place, or peculiarities of circumstance, 
 never altered his views of duty, nor changed his feel- 
 ings as a minister of Christ. In Galilee he meditated 
 upon the aspect of eccleciastical affairs in our beloved 
 Scotland, and the principles he had maintained ap- 
 peared to him as plainly accordant with the word of 
 God when tried there, apart from excitement, as they 
 did when he reviewed them in connection with their 
 effects at home. " I hope," were his words to a bro- 
 ther in the ministry, " I hope the church has been 
 well guided and blessed; and if times of difficulty 
 are to come, I do believe there is no position so proper 
 for her to be in, as the attitude of a missionary church, 
 giving freely to Jew and Gentile, as she has freely re- 
 ceived — so may she be found when the Lord comes." 
 
 At the foot of Lebanon, in the town of Beyrout, 
 he was able to expound a chapter (Acts x.) at a 
 prayer meeting of the American brethren. This 
 quite rejoiced his heart ; for it seemed as if the Lord 
 were restoring him, and meant again to use him in 
 preaching the glad tidings. But shortly after, during 
 the oppressive heat of the afternoon, he felt himself 
 unwell. He had paid a visit to a young man from 
 Glasgow in the town, who was ill of fever : and it is 
 not unlikely that this visit, at a time when he was in 
 a state of debility from previous fatigue, was the 
 immediate occasion of his own illness. He was very 
 soon prostrated under the fever. But his medical 
 attendant apprehended no danger, and advised him 
 to proceed to Smyrna, in the belief that the cool air 
 of the sea would be much more in his favour than 
 
128 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the sultry heat of BeyroiU. Accordingly, in company 
 with our faithful Hebrew friend, Erasmus Caiman, 
 we embarked ; but as we lay off Cyprus, the fever 
 increased to such a height, that he lost his memory 
 for some hours, and was racked with excessive pain 
 in his head. When the vessel sailed, he revived 
 considerably, but during three days no medical aid 
 could be obtained. He scarcely ever spoke ; and 
 only once did he for a moment, on a Saturday night, 
 lift his languid eye, as he lay on deck enjoying the 
 breeze, to catch a distant sight of Patmos. We 
 watched him with agonizing anxiety till we reached 
 Smyrna and the village of Bouja. Though three 
 miles off, vet for the sake of medical aid he rode 
 to this village upon a mule after sunset, ready to drop 
 every moment with pain and burning fever. But 
 here the Lord had prepared for him the best and 
 kindest help. The tender and parental care of Mr. 
 and Mrs. Lewis, in whose house he found a home, was 
 never mentioned by him but with deepest gratitude ; 
 and the sight of the flowering jessamine, or the men- 
 tion of the deep-green cypress, would invariably call 
 up in his mind associations of Bouja and its inmates. 
 He used to say it was his second birth-place. 
 
 During that time, like most of God's people who 
 have been in sickness, he felt that a single passage of 
 the word of God was more truly food to his fainting 
 soul than anything besides. One day his spirit revived, 
 and his eye glistened, when I spoke of the Saviour's 
 sympathy, adducing as the very words of Jesus, 
 Psalm xli. 1 — " Blessed is he that considereth the 
 poor, the Lord laill deliver him in time of trouble,^ 
 &c. : it seemed so applicable to his own case, as a 
 minister of the glad tidings ; for often had he " con- 
 sidered the poor," carrying a cup of cold water to a 
 disciple. Another passage, written for the children of 
 God in their distress, was spoken to him when he 
 seemed nearly insensible — " Call upon me in the day 
 oftrouble.^^ This word of God was a drop of honey 
 to Jonathan. 
 
 He himself thus spoke of his illness to his friends 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I09 
 
 at home : — " I left the foot of Lebanon when I could 
 hardly see, or hear, or speak, or remember ; I felt my 
 faculties going, one by one, and 1 had every reason 
 to expect that I would soon be with my God. It is 
 a sore trial to be alone and dying, in a foreign land, 
 and it has made me feel, in a way that I never knew 
 before, the necessity of having unfeigned faith in Jesus ^ 
 and in God. Sentiments, natural feelings, glowing 4 ^ 
 fancies of divine things, will not support the soul in ( 
 such an hour. There is much self-delusion in our ' 
 estimation of ourselves when we are untried and in 
 the midst of Christian friends, whose warm feelings 
 give a glow to ours, which they do not possess in them- 
 selves.^^ Even then he had his people in his heart. 
 " When I got better, I used to creep out in the even- 
 ings about sunset. I often remembered you all then. 
 I could not write, as my eyes and head were much 
 affected ; I could read but very little ; I could speak 
 very little, for I had hardly any voice ; and so I had 
 all my time to lay my people before God, and pray 
 for a blessing on them. About the last evening I was 
 there, we all went to the vintage, and I joitied in 
 gathering the grapes.'^ To Mr. Somerville he wrote: 
 — ''My mind was very weak when I was at the 
 worst, and therefore the things of eternity were often 
 dim. I had no feu J' to die, for Christ had died. Siill 
 I prayed for recovery, if it was the Lord's will. You 
 remember you told me to be humble among your last 
 advices. You see God is teaching me the same thing. 
 I fear I am not thoroughly humbled. I feel the pride 
 of mv heart, and bewail it." To his kind medical 
 friend Dr. Gibson, in Dundee, he wrote : — " I really 
 believed that ray master had called me home, and 
 that I would sleep beneath the dark green cypresses 
 of Bouja till the Lord shall come, and they that sleep 
 in Jesus come with him; and my most earnest prayer 
 was for my dear flock, that God would give them a 
 pastor after his own heart." 
 
 When we met, after an eight days' separation, on 
 board the vessel at Constantinople, he mentioned as 
 one of the most interesting incidents of the week, that 
 
130 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 one evening, while walking with Mr. Lewis, they 
 met a young Greek and his wife, both of whom were 
 believed to be really converted souls. It created a 
 thrill in his bosom to meet with these almost solitary 
 representatives of the once-faithful and much-tried 
 native church of Smyrna. 
 
 Meanwhile there were movements at home that 
 proved the Lord to be He who "alone doeth wondrous 
 things." The cry of his servant in Asia was not for- 
 gotten ; the eye of the Lord turned towards his people. 
 It was during the time of Mr. McCheyne's sore sick- 
 ness, that his flock in Dundee were receiving blessing 
 from the opened wmdows of heaven. Their pastor 
 was lying at the gate of death, in utter helplessness. 
 But the Lord had done this on very purpose; for he 
 meant to show that he needed not the help of any: 
 he could send forth new labourers, and work by new 
 instruments, when it pleased Him. We little knew 
 that during the days when we were waiting at the 
 foot of Lebanon for a vessel to carry us to Smyrna, 
 the arm of the Lord had begun to be revealed in 
 Scotland. On the 23d of July the great revival at 
 Kilsyth took place. 
 
 Mr. W. C. Burns, the same who was supplying 
 Mr. McCheyne's place in his absence, was on that 
 day preaching to his father's flock; and while press- 
 ing upon them immediate acceptance of Christ with 
 deep solemnity, the whole of the vast assembly were 
 overpowered. The Holy Spirit seemed to come down 
 as a rusliing mighty wind, and to fill the place. Very 
 many were that day struck to the heart ; the sanctuary 
 was filled with distressed and inquiring souls. All 
 Scotland heard the glad news that the sky was no 
 longer as brass — that the rain had begun to fall. The 
 Spirit in mighty power began to work from that day 
 forward in many places of the land. 
 
 Mr. Burns returned to Dundee to Mr. McCheyne's 
 flock on August 8tli — one of the days when Mr. 
 McCheyne was stretched on his bed, praying for his 
 people under all his own suffering. The news of the 
 work at Kilsyth had produced a deep impression in 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 131 
 
 Dundee; and two days after, the Spirit began to work 
 in St. Peter's, at the time of the prayer-meeting in 
 the church, in a way similar to Kilsyth. Day after 
 day, the people met for prayer and hearing the word ; 
 and the times of the Apostles seemed returned, when 
 "the Lord added to the church daily of such as should 
 be saved.'' All this time, Mr. McCheyne knew not 
 how gracious the Lord had been in giving him his 
 heart's desire. He continued, like Epaphras, "labour- 
 ing fervently for them in prayer ;" but it was not till 
 we were within sight of home that the glad news of 
 these revivals reached our ears. 
 
 Our journey led us through Moldavia, Wallachia, 
 and Austria — lands of darkness and of the shadow of 
 death. Profound strangers to the truth as it is in 
 Jesus, the people of these lands nevertheless profess 
 to be Christians. Superstition and its idolatries veil 
 the glorious object of faith from every eye. In these 
 regions, as well as in those alreadj^ traversed, jNIr. 
 McCheyne's anxiety for souls appeared in the efforts 
 he made to leave at least a few words of Scripture 
 with the Jews whom we met, however short the time 
 of our interview. His spirit was stirred in him ; and, 
 with his Hebrew Bible in his hand, he would walk up 
 thoughtfully and solemnly to the first Jew he could 
 get access to, and begin by calling the man's attention 
 to some statement of God's word. In Palestine, if 
 the Jew did not understand Italian, he would repeat 
 to him such texts in Hebrew as, "In that day there 
 shall be a fountain opened to the house of David," &c. 
 (Zech. xiii. L) And one evening, at the well of 
 Doulis, when the Arab population were all clustered 
 round the water troughs, he looked on very wistfully, 
 and said, " If only we had Arabic, we might sow be- 
 side all waters!" 
 
 At Jassy, after a deeply interesting day, spent in con- 
 versation with Jews who came to the inn, he said, " I 
 will remember the faces of those men at the Judgment 
 seat." When he came among the more educated 
 Jews of Europe, he rejoiced to find that they could 
 converse with him in Latin. His heart was bent on 
 
132 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 doing what he could (Mark xiv. 8) in season and out 
 of season. " One thing," he writes, " I am deeply 
 convinced of, that God can make the simplest state- 
 ment of the gospel effectual to save souls. If only it 
 he the true gospel, the good tidings, the message that 
 God loved the world, and provided a ransom free to 
 all, then God is able to make it wound the heart, and 
 heal it too. There is deep meaning in the words of 
 Paul, * I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.' " 
 
 The abominations of Popery witnessed in Austrian 
 Poland, called forth many a prayer for the destruction 
 of the Man of Sin. "The images and idols by the 
 way-side are actually frightful, stamping the whole 
 land as a kiosdom of darkness. I do believe that a 
 jom-ney through Austria would go far to cure some of 
 the Popery-admirers of our beloved land." He adds 
 — " These are the marks of the beast upon this land." 
 And in like manner our privileges in Scotland used 
 to appear to him the more precious, when, as at Brody, 
 we heard of Protestants who were supplied with ser- 
 mon only once a year. '• I must tell this to my people," 
 said he," "when I return, to make them prize their 
 many seasons of grace." 
 
 The importance of a town or country was estimated 
 by its relation to the house of Israel ; and his yearn- 
 ings over these lost sheep resembled his bowels of 
 compassion for his flock at home. At Tarnapol, in 
 Galicia, he wrote home — "We are in Tarnapol, a 
 very nice clean town, prettily situated on a winding 
 stream, with wooded hills around. I suppose you 
 never heard its name before; neither did I till we 
 were there among Jews. I know not whether it has 
 been the birth-place of warriors, or poets, or orators ; 
 its flowers have hitherto been born to blush unseen, 
 at least by us barbarians of the north ; but if God re- 
 vive the dry bones of Israel that are scattered over the 
 world, there will arise from this place an exceeding 
 great army." 
 
 Our friend and brother in the foith, Erasmus Cai- 
 man, lightened the tediousness of a long day's jour- 
 ney, by repeating to us some Hebrew poetry. One 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 133 
 
 piece was on Israel's present state of degradation ; it 
 began — 
 
 ni-ifl c'ini nnn 
 As the vehicle drove along, we translated it line by 
 line, and soon after Mr. McCheyne put it into verse. 
 The following lines are a part : — 
 
 Rock and Refuge of my soul, 
 
 Swiftly let the season roll, 
 
 When thine Israel shall arise 
 
 Lovely in the nations' eyes 1 » 
 
 Lord of glory, Lord of might. 
 
 As our ransomed fathers tell ; 
 Once more for thy people fight, 
 
 Plead for thy loved Israel. 
 Give our spoilers' towers to be 
 Waste and desolate as w^e. 
 
 Hasten, Lord, the joyful year. 
 
 When thy Zion, tempest-tossed. 
 Shall the silver trumpet hear. 
 
 Bring glad tidings to the lost ! 
 Captive, cast thy cords from thee. 
 Loose thy neck — be free — be free I 
 
 Why dost thou behold our sadness ? 
 
 See the proud have torn away 
 All our years of solemn gladness, 
 
 W^hen thy flock kept holy-day ! 
 Lord, thy fruitful vine is bare, 
 Not one gleaning grape is there ! 
 
 Rock and Refuge of my soul, 
 Swiftly let the season roll, 
 When thine Israel shall be, 
 Once again, beloved and free ! 
 
 In his notes, he has one or two subjects marked for 
 hymns. One of these is — Isaiah ii. 3 — " Come ye," 
 &c., J2 loving call to the Jews. Another is to the same 
 effect — Isaiah i. 15 — " Come, let us reason together." 
 But these he never completed. In Cracow, having 
 heard of the death of a friend, the wife of an English 
 clergyman, in the midst of her days and in the full 
 promise of usefulness, he began to pen a few sweet 
 lines of comfort. 
 
 12 
 
134 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Ofl as she taught the little maids of France 
 To leave the garland, Castanet, and dance, 
 And listen to the words which she would say 
 About the crowns that never fade away, 
 A new expression kindled in her eye, 
 A holy brightness, borrowed from tlie sky. 
 And when returning to her native land, 
 Slie bowed beneath a Father's chastening hand; 
 When the quick pulse and flush upon the cheek, 
 A touching warning to her friends would speak, 
 A holy cheerfulness yet filled her eye ; 
 Willing she was to live, willing to die. 
 As the good Shunamniite (the Scriptures tell), 
 . When her son died, said meekly, " It is well," 
 
 So when Sophia left her infant boy, 
 And felt how dear-bought is a mother's joy, 
 AVhcn with green turf the little grave she spread, 
 "Not lost, but gone before," she meekly said. 
 And now they sleep together 'neath the willow, 
 The same dew drops upon their silent pillow. 
 
 Return, O mourner, from this double grave. 
 And praise the God who all her graces gave. 
 Follow her faith, and let her mantle be 
 A cloak of holy zeal to cover thee. 
 
 The danger which he incurred from the sheplierds 
 in this region, and other similar perils to which he 
 was exposed in company with others, have been 
 recorded in the Narrative. Out of them all the Lord 
 delivered him; and not from these perils only did He 
 save him, but from many severe trials to his health, 
 to Avliich variety of climate and discomforts of accom- 
 modation subjected him. And now we were travers- 
 ing Prussia, drawing nearer our own land. It was 
 about five months since we had received letters from 
 Scotland, our route having led us away from places 
 Avhich we had anticipated visiting, and where com- 
 munications had been left for us. We pressed home- 
 ward somewhat anxiously, yet wondering often at_, 
 past mercies. In a letter from Berlin, Mr. McCheyne 
 remarked, "Oar heavenly Father has brought us 
 through so many trials and dangers that I feel per- 
 suaded he will yet carry us to the end. Like John, 
 we shall fulfil our course. ^Are there not twelve 
 hours in the day?' Are we not all immortal till our 
 work is done." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I35 
 
 His strength was rapidly increasing ; the journey 
 had answered the ends anticipated to a great extent, 
 in his restoration to heahh. He was able to preach 
 at Hamburgh to the English congregation of Mr. Rhe- 
 der, from whom it was that the first hint of a revival 
 in Dundee reached his ears. He heard just so much 
 both of Kilsyth and Dundee as to make him long to 
 hear more. A few days after, on board the vessel 
 that conveyed us to England, he thus expressed his 
 feelings: 
 
 " Saili7is uv the Thames, Nov. 6, 183D. 
 
 "My Dear Father and Mother, — You will be 
 glad to see by the date that we are once more in sight 
 of the shores of happy England. I only wish I knew 
 how you all are. I have not heard of you since I was 
 in Smyrna. In vain did I inquire for letters from you 
 at Cracow, Berlin, and Hamburgh. You must have 
 written to Warsaw, and the Resident there has not 
 returned them to Berlin, as we desired. Andrew and 
 I and Mr. Caiman are all quite well, and thankful to 
 God, who has brought us through every danger in so 
 many countries. I trust our course has not been alto- 
 gether fruitless, and that we may now resign our 
 commission with some hope of good issuing from it 
 to the Church and to Israel. I preached last Sabbath 
 in Hamburgh, for the first time since leaving England, 
 and felt nothing the worse of it ; so that I do hope it 
 is my heavenly Father's will to restore me to useful- 
 ness again among my beloved flock. We have heard 
 something of a reviving work at Kilsyth. We saw it 
 noticed in one of the newspapers. I also saw the 
 name of Dundee associated with it ; so that I earnest- 
 ly hope good has been doing in our church, and the 
 dew from on high watering our parishes, and that 
 the flocks whose pastors have been wandering may 
 also have shared in the blessing. We are quite igno- 
 rant of the facts, and you may believe we are anxious 
 
 to hear We are now passing Woolwich, 
 
 and in an hour will be in London. We are anxious 
 to be home, but I suppose will not get away till next 
 
136 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 week. I never thought to have seen you a gam in 
 this world, but now I hope to meet you once more in 
 peace. — BeUeve me, your affectionate son," &c. 
 
 The day we arrived on the shores of our own land 
 was indeed a singular day. We were intensely anxious 
 to hear of events that had occurred at home a few 
 months before — the outpouring of the Spirit from on 
 high — while our friends were intensely interested in 
 hearing tidings of the land of Israel and the scattered 
 tribes. The reception of the deputation on their 
 return, and the fruits of their mission, are well known, 
 and have been elsewhere recorded. 
 
 Mr. INIcCheyne listened with deepest interest to the 
 accounts given of what had taken place in Dundee 
 during the month of August, when he lay at the gates 
 of death in Bouja. The Lord had indeed fulfilled his 
 hopes, and answered his prayers. His assistant, Mr. 
 Burns, had been honoured of God to open the flood- 
 gate at Dundee, as well as at Kilsyth. For some 
 time before, Mr. Burns had seen symptoms of deeper 
 attention than usual, and of real anxiety in some that 
 had hitherto been careless. But it was after his re- 
 turn from Kilsyth that the people began to melt before 
 the Lord. On Thursday, the second day after his re- 
 turn, at the close of the usual evening prayer-meeting 
 in St. Peter's, and when the minds of many were 
 deeply solemnized by the tidings which had reached 
 them, he spoke a few words about what had for some 
 days detained him from them, and invited those to re- 
 main who felt the need of an outpouring of the Spirit 
 to convert them. About a hundred remained ; and at 
 the conclusion of a solemn address to these anxious 
 souls, suddenly the power of God seemed to descend, 
 and all were bathed in tears. At a similar meeting, 
 next evening, in the church, there was much melting 
 of heart and intense desire after the Beloved of the 
 Father; and on adjourning to the vestry, the arm of 
 the Lord was revealed. No sooner was the vestry- 
 door opened to admit those who might feel anxious 
 to converse, than a vast number pressed in with awful 
 
REV. R. M. McCIIEYNE. 137 
 
 eagerness. It was like a pent-up flood breaking forth ; 
 tears were streaming from the eyes of many, and 
 some fell on the ground groaning, and weeping, and 
 crying for mercy. Onward from that evening, meet- 
 ings were held every day for many weeks; and the 
 extraordinary nature of the work justified and called 
 for extraordinary services. The whole town was 
 moved. Many believers doubted; the ungodly raged; 
 but the word of God grew mightily and prevailed. 
 Instances occurred where whole families were affect- 
 ed at once, and each could be found mourning apart, 
 affording a specimen of the times spoken of by Zecha- 
 riah (xii. 12). Mr. Baxter of Hilltown, Mr. Hamil- 
 ton, then assistant at Abernyte, and other men of God 
 in the vicinity, hastened to aid in the work. Mr. 
 Roxburgh of St. John's, and Mr. Lewis of St. David's, 
 examined the work impartially and judiciously, and 
 testified it to be of God. Dr. McDonald of Ferintosh, 
 a man of God well experienced in revivals, came to 
 the spot and put to his seal also; and continued in 
 town, preaching in St. David's church to the anxious 
 multitudes, during ten days. How many of those 
 who were thus awfully awakened were really brought 
 to the truth, it was impossible to ascertain. When 
 Mr. McCheyne arrived, drop after drop was still 
 falling from the clouds. 
 
 Such in substance were the accounts he heard be- 
 fore he reached Dundee. They were such as made 
 his heart rejoice. He had no envy at another instru- 
 ment having been so honoured in the place where he 
 himself had laboured with many tears and tempta- 
 tions. In true Christian magnanimity, he rejoiced 
 that the work of the Lord was done, by whatever 
 hand. Full of praise and wonder, he set his foot once 
 more on the shore of Dundee. 
 
 12 
 
 * 
 
1 38 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 DAYS OF REVIVAL. 
 
 They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water 
 
 courses. — Isaiah xliv. 4. 
 
 His people, who had never ceased to pray for him, 
 welcomed his arrival among them with the greatest 
 joy. He reached Dundee on a Thursday afternoon ; 
 and in the. evening of the same day — being the usual 
 time for prayer in St. Peter's — after a short medita- 
 tion, he hastened to the church, there to render thanks 
 to the Lord, and to speak once more to his flock. The 
 appearance of the church that evening, and the aspect 
 of the people, he never could forget. Many of his 
 brethren were present to welcome him, and to hear 
 the first words of his opened lips. There was not a 
 seat in the church unoccupied, the passages were com- 
 pletely filled, and the stairs up to the pulpit were 
 crowded, on the one side with the aged, on the other 
 with eagerly listening children. Many a face was 
 seen anxiously gazing on their restored pastor; many 
 were weeping under the unhealed wounds of convic- 
 tion; all were still and calm, intensely earnest to hear. 
 He gave out Psalm Ixvi,, and the manner of singing, 
 which had been remarked since the revival began, 
 appeared to him peculiarly sweet — " so tender and 
 affecting, as if the people felt that they were praising 
 a present God." After solemn prayer with them, he 
 was able to preach for above an hour. Not knowing 
 how long he might be permitted to proclaim the glad 
 tidings, he seized that opportunity, not to tell of his 
 journeyings, but to show the way of life to sinners. 
 His subject was 1 Cor. ii. 1-4, — the matter, the man- 
 ner, and the accompaniments of Paul's preaching. It 
 was a night to be remembered. 
 
 On coming out of the church, he found the road to 
 his house crowded with old and young, who were 
 waiting to welcome him back. He had to shake hands 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I39 
 
 with many at the same time ; and before this happy- 
 multitude would disperse, had to speak some words of 
 life to them again, and pray with them where they 
 stood. " To thy name, Lord,'^ said he that night 
 when returned to his home, " To thy name, Lord, 
 be all the glory." A month afterwards, he was visited 
 by one who had hitherto stood out against all the 
 singular influence of the revival, but who that night 
 was deeply awakened mider his words, so that the 
 arrow festered in her soul, till she came crying, " 
 my hard, hard heart!" 
 
 On the Sabbath he preached to his flock in the 
 afternoon. He chose 2 Chron. v. 13, 14, as his sub- 
 ject; and in the close, his hearers remember well how 
 afiectionately and solemnly he said — " Dearly beloved 
 and longed for, I now begin another year of my min- 
 istry among you; and I am resolved, if God give me 
 health and strength, that I will not let a man, woman, 
 or child among you alone, until you have at least 
 heard the testimony of God concerning his Son, either 
 to your condemnation or salvation. And I will pray, 
 as I have done before, that, if the Lord will indeed 
 give us a great outpouring of his Spirit, he will do it 
 in such a way that it will be evident to the weakest 
 child among you that it is the Lord's work, and not 
 man's. I think I may say to you, as Rutherford said 
 to his people, ' Your heaven would be two heavens to 
 me.' And if the Lord be pleased to give me a crown 
 from among you, I do here promise in his sight, that 
 I will cast it at his feet, saying, ^ Worthy is the I^amb 
 that was slain! Blessing, and honour, and glory, and 
 power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and 
 to the Lamb, for ever and ever.' " 
 
 It was much feared for a time that a jealous spirit 
 would prevail among the people of St. Peter's, some 
 saying, " I am of Paul, and others, I of Cephas." 
 Those recently converted were apt to regard their 
 spiritual father in a light in which they could regard 
 none besides. But Mr. McCheyne had received from 
 the Lord a holy disinterestedness that suppressed every 
 feeling of envy. Many wondered at the single-heart- 
 
140 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 edness he was enabled to exhibit. He could sincerely 
 say, " I have no desire but the salvation of my peo- 
 ple, by whatever instrument." 
 
 Never, perhaps, was there one placed in better cir- 
 cumstances for testing the revival impartially, and sel- 
 dom has any revival been more fully tested. He 
 came among a people whose previous character he 
 knew; he found a work wrought among them during 
 his absence, in which he had not had any direct share; 
 he returned home to go out and in among them, and 
 to be a close observer of all that had taken place; and, 
 after a faithful and prayerful examination, he did most 
 unhesitatingly say, that the Lord had wrought great 
 things, whereof he was glad; and, in the case of many 
 of those whose souls were saved in that revival, he 
 discovered remarkable answers to the prayers of him- 
 self, and of those who had come to the truth, before 
 he left them. He wrote to me his impressions of the 
 work, when he had been a few weeks among his 
 people. 
 
 ''2d Dec. 1830. 
 " Rev. And. A. Boxar, Collace. 
 
 " My dear A. — I begin upon note-paper, because I 
 have no other on hand but our thin travelling paper. 
 I have much to tell you, and to praise the Lord for. 
 I am grieved to hear that there are no marks of the 
 Spirit's work about Collace during your absence; but 
 if Satan drive you to your knees, he will soon find 
 cause to repent it. Remember how fathers do to their 
 children when they ask bread. How much more shall 
 our heavenly Father give (dya9^) all good things to 
 them that ask him. RememlDcr the rebuke which I 
 once got from old Mr. Dempster of Denny, after 
 preaching to his people — ' I was highly pleased with 
 your discourse, but in prayer it struck me that you 
 thought God umvilling to give.^ Remember Daniel 
 — ^ At the beginning of thy supplications the command- 
 ment came forth.' And do not think you are forgot- 
 ten by me as long as I have health and grace to pray. 
 
 "Every thing here I have found in a state better 
 than I expected. The night I arrived I preached to 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 141 
 
 such a congregation as I never saw before. I do not 
 think another person could have got into the church, 
 and there was every sign of the deepest and tenderest 
 emotion. R. Macdonald was with me, and prayed. 
 Affliction and success in the ministry have taught and 
 quickened iiim. I preached on 1 Cor. ii. 1-4, and felt 
 what I have often heard, that it is easy to preach 
 where the Spirit of God is. On the Friday night. 
 Burns preached; on the Sabbath I preached on that 
 wonderful passage, 2 Chron. v. 13, 14; Mr. Burns 
 preached twice, morning and evening. His views of 
 Divine truth are clear and commanding. There is a 
 great deal of substance in what he preaches, and his 
 manner is very powerful, — so much so, that he some- 
 times made me tremble. In private, he is deeply 
 prayerful, and seems to feel his danger of falling into 
 pride. 
 
 I have seen many of the awakened, and many of 
 the saved ; indeed, this is a pleasant place compared 
 with what it was once. Some of the awakened are 
 still in the deepest anxiety and distress. Their great 
 error is exactly what your brother Horace told me. 
 They think that coming to Christ is some strange act of 
 their mind, different from believing what God has 
 said of his Son ; so much so, that they will tell you 
 with one breath, I believe all that God has said, and 
 yet with the next, complain that they cannot come to 
 Christ, or close with Christ. It is very hard to deal 
 with this delusion. 
 
 "I find some old people deeply shaken; they feel 
 insecure. One confirmed drunkard has come to me, and 
 is, I believe, now a saved man. Some little children 
 are evidently saved. All that I have yet seen are re- 
 lated to converts of my own. One, eleven years old, 
 is a singular instance of Divine grace. When I asked 
 if she desired to be made holy, she said, ' Indeed I often 
 wish I was awa', that I might sin nae mair.' A. L. 
 of fifteen, is a fine tender-hearted believer. W. S., 
 is also a happy boy. 
 
 "Many of my own dear children in the Lord are 
 much advanced; much more full of joy — their hearts 
 
142 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 lifted up ill the ways of the Lord. I have found many 
 more savingly impressed under my own ministry than 
 I knew of. Some have come to tell me. In one case, 
 a whole family saved. I have hardly met with any 
 thing to grieve me. Surely the Lord hath dealt boun- 
 tifully with me. I fear, however, that the great Spi- 
 rit has in some measure passed by — I hope soon to 
 return in greater power than ever. The week meet- 
 ings are thinner now. I will turn two of them into 
 my classes soon, and so give solid, regular instruction, 
 of which they stand greatly in need. I have not met 
 with one case of extravagance or false fire, although 
 doubtless there may be many. At first they used to 
 follow in a body to our house, and expected many an 
 address and prayer by the road. They have given up 
 this now. I preached last Sabbath twice, first on 
 Isaiah xxviii. 14-18, and then on Rev. xii. 11, 'Over- 
 came by the blood of the Lamb.' It was a very 
 solemn day. The people willingly sat till it was dark. 
 Many make it a place of Bochim. Still there is no- 
 thing of the power which has been. I have tried to 
 persuade Mr. Burns to stay with us, and I think he 
 will remain in Dundee. I feel fully stronger in body 
 than when I left you. Instead of exciting me, there 
 is everything to solemnize and still my feelings. Eter- 
 nity sometimes seems very near. 
 
 ''I would like your advice about prayer-meetings; 
 — how to consolidate them ; what rules should be 
 followed, if any; whether there should be mere read- 
 ing of the word and prayer, or free converse also on 
 the passage? We began to day a ministerial prayer- 
 meeting, to be held every Monday at eleven for an 
 hour and a half. This is a great comfort, and may be 
 a great blessing. Of course, we do not invite the 
 colder ministers; that would only damp our meeting. 
 Tell me if you think this right. 
 
 " And now, dear A., I must be done, for it is very 
 late. May your people share in the quickening that 
 has come over Dundee. I feel it a very powerful 
 argument with many — ' Will you be left dry when 
 others are getting drops of heavenly dew.^' Try this 
 with your people. 
 
REV. R. M. McCIIEYNE. 143 
 
 ^' I think it probable we shall have another com- 
 munion again before the regular one. It seems very- 
 desirable. You will come and help us; and perhaps 
 Horace too. 
 
 " I thought of coming back by Collace from Errol, 
 if our Glasgow meeting had not come in the way. 
 
 "Will you set agoing your Wednesday meeting 
 again immediately ? 
 
 " Farewell, dear A. ' man, greatly beloved, fear 
 not; peace be to thee; be strong: yea, be strong;' 
 Yours ever," &c. 
 
 To Mr. Burns he thus expresses himself, on Decein- 
 hcr 19th: — " My Dear Brother, I shall never be able 
 to thank you for all your labours among the precious 
 souls committed to me ; and what is worse, I can 
 never thank God fully for his kindness and grace, 
 which every day appears to me more remarkable. 
 He has answered prayer to me in all that has happen- 
 ed in a way which I have never told any one." Again, 
 on tlie 31st, "Stay where you are, dear brother, as 
 long as the Lord has any work for you to do.^ If I 
 know my own heart, its only desire is that Christ 
 may be glorified, by souls flocldng to him, and abid- 
 ing in him, and reflecting his image; and whether it 
 be in Perth or Dundee should signify little to us. You 
 know I told you my mind plainly, that I thought the 
 Lord had so blessed you in Dundee that you were 
 called to a fuller and deeper work there; but if the 
 Lord accompanies you to other places, I have nothing 
 to object. The Lord strengthened my body and soul 
 last Sabbath, and my spirit also was glad. The peo- 
 ple were much alive in the Lord's service. But 
 dear brother, the most are Christless still. The rich 
 are almost untroubled." 
 
 His evidence on this subject is given fully in his 
 answers to the queries put by a committee of the 
 Aberdeen Presbytery ; and, in a note to a friend, he 
 incidentally mentions a pleasing result of this wide- 
 
 * Mr. Burns was at that time in Perth, and there had begun to be 
 some movement among the dry bones. 
 
144 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 spread awakening. " I find many souls saved under 
 my own ministry, whom I never knew of before. 
 They are not afraid to come out now, it has become 
 so common a thing to be concerned about the soul." 
 At that time, also, many came from a distance — one 
 came from the north, who had been a year in deep 
 distress of soul, to seek Christ in Dundee. 
 
 In his brief diary he records, on December 3d, that 
 twenty anxious souls had that night been conversing 
 with him ; many of them very deeply interesting. 
 He occasionally fixed an evening for the purpose of 
 meeting with those who were awakened ; and in one 
 of his note-books there are at least four hundred 
 visits recorded, made to him by inquiring souls, in the 
 course of that and the following years. He observed, 
 that those who had been believers formerly had got 
 their hearts enlarged, and were greatly established; 
 and some seemed able to feed upon the truth in a new 
 manner — as when one related to him how there had 
 for some time appeared a glory in the reading of the 
 word in public quite different from reading it alone. 
 
 At the same time he saw backslidings, both among 
 those whom believers had considered really converted, 
 and among those who had been deeply convicted, 
 though never reckoned among the really saved. He 
 
 notes in his book — " Called to see . Poor lad, he 
 
 seems to have gone back from Christ, led away by 
 evil company. And yet I felt sure of him at one time. 
 Wliat blind creatures ministers are: man looketh at 
 the outward appearance." One morning he was visit- 
 ed by one of his flock, proposing ^' a concert for prayer 
 on the following Monday, in behalf of those who had 
 fallen back, that God's Spirit might re-awaken them," 
 — so observant were the believers as well as their pas- 
 tor of declensions. Among those who were awakened, 
 but never truly converted, he mentions one case. 
 ''' Jcniuary 9, 1840. — Met with the case of one who 
 had been frightened during the late work, so that her 
 bodily health was injured. She seems to have no care 
 now about her soul. It lias only filled her mouth 
 with evil-speaking." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I45 
 
 That many, who promised fair, drew back and 
 walked no more with Jesns, is true. Out of about eight 
 hundred souls, who, during the months of the revival, 
 conversed with different ministers in apparent anx- 
 iety, no wonder snrely if many proved to have been 
 impressed only for a time. President Edwards con- 
 sidered it likely that, in such cases, the proportion of 
 real conversions might resemble the proportion of 
 blossoms in spring, and fruit in autumn. Nor can 
 any thing be more unreasonable than to doubt the 
 truth of all, because of the deceit of some. The world 
 itself does not so act in judging of its own. The 
 world reckons upon the possibility^ of being mistaken 
 in many cases, and yet does not cease to believe that 
 there is honesty and truth to be found. One of them- 
 selves, a poet of their own, has said with no less 
 justice than beauty — 
 
 "Ang-els are bright still, though the brightest fell; 
 And though foul things put on the brows of grace, 
 Yet grace must still look so." 
 
 But, above all, we have the authority of the word of 
 God, declaring that such backslidings are the very 
 tests of the true Church — "For there must be also 
 heresies among you, that they which are approved 
 may be made manifest among you." 1 Cor. xi. 19. 
 It is not, however, meant that any who had really 
 believed went back to perdition. On the contrary, it 
 is the creed of every sound evangelical church, that 
 those who do go back to perdition were persons who 
 never really believed in Jesus. Their eyes may have 
 been opened to see the dread realities of sin and of 
 the wrath to come, but if they saw not righteousness 
 for their guilty souls in the Saviour, there is nothing 
 in all Scripture to make us expect that they will con- 
 tinue awake. "Awake, thou that sleepest, and Christ 
 will give thee light, ^^ is the call and the invitation. 
 One who, for a whole year, went back to folly, said — 
 " Your sermon on the corruption of the heart made 
 me despair, and so I gave myself up to my old ways 
 — attending dances, learning songs," &c. A knowledge 
 
 13 
 
146 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 of our guilt, and a sense of danger, will not of them- 
 selves keep us from falling ; nay, these, if alone, may 
 (as in the above case) thrust us down the slippery 
 places. We are truly secure only when our eye is on 
 Jesus, and our hand locked in his hand. So that the 
 history of backslidings, instead of leading us to doubt 
 the reality of grace in believers, will only be found 
 to teach us two great lessons, viz., the vast importance 
 of pressing immediate salvation on awakened souls, 
 and the reasonableness of standing in doubt of all, 
 however deep their convictions, who have not truly 
 fled to the hope set before them. 
 
 There was another ground of prejudice against the 
 whole work, arising from the circumstance that the 
 Lord had employed in it young men not long engaged 
 in the work of the ministry, rather than the fathers 
 in Israel. But herein it was that sovereign grace 
 shone forth the more conspicuously. Do such objec- 
 tors suppose that God ever intends the honour of man 
 in a work of revival? Is it not the honour of his own 
 name that he seeks ? Had it been his wish to give 
 the glory to man at all, then indeed it might have 
 been asked, " Why does he pass by the older pastors, 
 and call for the inexperienced youth?" But when 
 sovereign grace was coming to bless a region in the 
 way that would redound most to the glory of the 
 Lord, can we conceive a wiser plan than to use the 
 sling of David in bringing down the Philistine ? If, 
 however, there be some whose prejudice is from the 
 root of envy, let such hear the remonstrance of Richard 
 Baxter to the jealous ministers of his day. " What ! 
 malign Christ in gifts for which he should have the 
 glory, and all because they seem to hinder our glory ! 
 Does not every man owe thanks to God for his breth- 
 ren's gifts — not only as having himself part in them, 
 as the foot has the benefit of the guidance of the eye, 
 but also because his own ends may be attained by his 
 
 brethren's gifts as well as by his own 
 
 A fearful thing that any man, that hath the least of 
 the fear of God, should so envy at God's gifts, that 
 he would rather his carnal hearers were unconverted, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 147 
 
 and the drowsy not awakened, than that it should be 
 done by another who may be preferred before tliem."* 
 
 The work of the Sphit went on, the stream flow- 
 ing gently ; for the heavy showers had fallen, and 
 the overflowing of the waters had passed by. Mr. 
 McCheyne became more than ever vigilant and dis- 
 criminating in dealing with souls. Observing, also, 
 that some were influenced more by feelings of strong 
 attachment to their pastor personally, than by the 
 power of the truths he preached, he became more re- 
 served in his deahngs with them, so that some thought 
 there was a little coldness or repulsiveness in his man- 
 ner. If there did appear anything of this nature to 
 some, certainly it was no indication of diminished 
 compassion: but, on the contrary, proceeded from a 
 scrupulous anxiety to guard others against the deceit- 
 ful feelings of their own souls. A few notes of his 
 work occur at this period. 
 
 '^ November 21 , 1839. — A pleasant meeting in the 
 Cross church on Wednesday last, for the seamen. All 
 that spoke seemed to honour the Saviour. I had to 
 move thanksgiving to God for his mercies. This has 
 been a real blessing to Dundee. It should not be for- 
 gotten in our prayers and thanksgivings." 
 
 " Nov. 28. — Thursday evening. — Much comfort in 
 speaking. There was often an awful stillness. Spoke 
 on Jerem. vi. 14 — ^ They "have healed also the hurt of 
 the daughter of my people slightly,^ " &c. 
 
 '' December 1. — This evening came a tender Chris- 
 tian, so far as I can see; an exposition of that text, 
 ' I ivill go softly ^^ or of that other, ' Thou shall not 
 open thy mouth any more.' A child of shame made 
 one of honour. Her sister was awakened under jNIr. 
 Baxter's words in St. Peter's, at whom he asked, 
 « Would you like to be holy V She replied, ^ Indeed, 
 I often wish I were dead that I might sin no more.' " 
 
 '^ Dec. 3. — Preached six times within these two 
 days." 
 
 '' Dec. 8. — Saw J. T. in fever. She seems really 
 
 * Reformed Pastor, iv. 2. 
 
148 ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 in Christ now ; tells me how deeply my words seaik 
 into her soul when I was away. A. M. stayed to tell 
 me her joy. J. B. walked home with me, telling me 
 what God had done for his soul, when one day 1 had 
 stopped at the quarry on account of a shower of rain, 
 and took shelter with my pony in the engine-house." 
 He had simply pointed to the fire of the furnace, 
 and said, "What does that remind you of?'' and the 
 words had remained deep in the man's soul. 
 
 Dec. 11. — A woman awakened that night. I 
 preached in J. D.'s green, about two years ago, on 
 Ezek. XX. 43. For twenty years she had been out of 
 church privileges, and now, for the first time, came 
 trembling to ask restoration. Surely Immanuel is in 
 this place, and even old sinners are flocking to him. 
 I have got an account of about twenty prayer-meet- 
 ings connected with my flock. Many open ones ; 
 many fellowship meetings; only one or two have any 
 thing like exhortation superadded to the word. These, 
 I think, it must be our care to change, if possible, 
 lest error and pride creep in. The only other diffi- 
 culty is this. In two of the female meetings, origi- 
 nally fellowship-m.eetings, anxious female inquirers 
 have been admitted, they do not pray, but only 
 hear. In one M. and J. had felt the rising of pride 
 to a great degree; in the other M. could not be per- 
 suaded that there was any. danger of pride. This 
 case will require prayerful deliberation. My mind at 
 present is, that there is great danger from it, the 
 praying members feeling themselves on a difterent 
 level from the others, and any thing hke female-teach- 
 ing, as a public teacher, seems clearly condemned in 
 the word of God." 
 
 '^ Dec. 12. — Felt very feeble all day, and as if I 
 could not do any more work in the vineyard. Even- 
 ing — Felt more of the reality of Immanuel's inter- 
 cession. The people also were evidently subdued by 
 more than a human testimony. One soul waited, 
 sobbing most piteously. She could give no more 
 account of herself than that she was a sinner, and did 
 not believe that God would be merciful to her. When 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I49 
 
 I showed how I found mercy, her only answer was — 
 * But you were not sic a sinner as me.' '' 
 
 '■''Dec. IS. — Went to Glasgow along with A. B. 
 Preached in St. George's to a full audience, in the 
 cause of the Jews. Felt real help in time of need." 
 This was one of his many journeys from place to 
 place in behalf of Israel, relating the things seen and 
 heard among the Jews of Palestine and other lands. 
 
 " Dec. 22. — Preached in Anderston church with a 
 good deal of inward peace and comfort." 
 
 '•'Dec. 2o. — Interesting meeting with the Jewish 
 Committee. In the evening met a number of God's 
 people. The horror of some good people in Glasgow 
 at the Millenarian views is very great, while at the 
 same time their objections appear very weak." 
 
 '' Dec. 31. — Young communicants. Two have made 
 application to be admitted under eleven years of age; 
 four that are only fourteen; three who are fifteen or 
 sixteen." 
 
 ^'January 1, 1840. — Awoke early by the kind 
 providence of God, and had uncommon freedom and 
 fervency in keeping the concert for prayer this morn- 
 ing before light. Very touching interview with M. 
 P., who still refuses to be comforted. Was enabled 
 to cry after a glorious Immanuel along with her. 
 How I wish I had her bitter convictions of sin! An- 
 other called this evening, who says she was awaken- 
 ed and brought to Christ during the sermon on the 
 morninsr of December 1st, on the covenant ivith death. 
 Gave clear answers, but seems too unmoved for one 
 really changed." 
 
 ''Jan. 2. — Visited six families. Was refreshed 
 and solemnized at each of them. Spoke of the Word 
 made flesh, and of all the paths of the Lord being 
 mercy and truth. Visited in the evening by some 
 interesting souls: one a believing little boy; another 
 complaining she cannot come to Christ for the hard- 
 ness of her heart; another once awakened under my 
 ministry, again thoroughly awakened and brought to 
 Christ under Horace Bonar's sermon at the commun- 
 ion. She is the only saved one in her family — awfully 
 
 13* 
 
150 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 persecuted by father and mother. Lord stand up for 
 thine own ! Make known, by their constancy under 
 suffering, the power and beauty of thy grace ! Even- 
 ing — Mr. Miller preached delightfully on * The love 
 of Christ constraineth us.' His account of the Pro- 
 testants of France was very interesting — the work of 
 God at Nismes, where it is said they are no more 
 fishing with line, but dragging with the nets. Read 
 a letter from Mr. Gumming, describing the work at 
 Perth, and entreating the prayers of God's children." 
 
 This last reference is to the awakening which took 
 place in St. Leonard's church, Perth, on the last night 
 of the year, when Mr. Burns, along with their pastor, 
 Mr. Milne, was preaching. Mr. B. had intended to 
 return to Dundee for the Sabbath, but was detained 
 by the plain indications of the Lord's presence. At 
 one meeting, the work was so glorious that one night 
 about one hundred and fifty persons at one time seem- 
 ed bowed down under a sense of their guilt, and above 
 two hundred came next day to the church in the fore- 
 noon to converse about their souls. This awakening 
 was the commencement of a solid work of grace, both 
 in that town and its neighbourhood, much fruit of 
 which is to be found there at this day in souls that are 
 walking in the fear of the Lord, and the camfort of the 
 Holy Ghost. And it was in the spring of this same 
 year, that, in CoUace, at our weekly prayer-meeting, 
 when two brethren were ministering, we received a 
 blessed shower from the Lord. 
 
 His journal proceeds : — 
 
 " Jan. 3. — An inquirer came, awakened under my 
 ministry two years and a half ago." 
 
 "■Jan. 5. — Two came; M. B. sorely wounded with 
 the forenoon's discourse." 
 
 '^Jan. 12. — Intimated a concert for prayer, that 
 unworthy communicants might be kept back, the 
 Lord's children prepared for the feast, and ministers 
 furnished from on high." 
 
 "Jan 13. — Kept concert of prayer this morning 
 with my dear people. Did not find the same enlarge- 
 ment as usual." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 151 
 
 ''''March 5. — Thursday evening. — Preached on Zech. 
 iii. — Joshua. Was led to speak searchingly about 
 making Christ the minister of sin. One young wo- 
 man cried aloud very bitterly. M. B. came to tell me 
 that poor M. is like to have her life taken away by 
 her parents. A young woman also, who is' still con- 
 cerned, and persecuted by her father. A young man 
 came to tell me that he had found Christ. Roll on, 
 thou river of life! visit every dwelling! save a mul- 
 titude of souls. Come, Holy Spirit ! come quickly!" 
 
 '''March 25. — Last night at Forfar speaking for 
 Israel to a small band of friends of the Jews. Fear- 
 fully wicked place — the cry of it ascends up before 
 God like that Sodom." 
 
 " Mai'ch 31. — Met with young communicants on 
 Wednesday and Friday. On the latter night espe- 
 cially, ver}^ deep feeling, manifested in sobbings. 
 Visits of several. One dear child nine years old. 
 Sick bed." 
 
 "April 1. — Presbytery day. Passed the constitu- 
 tion of two new churches — blessed be God ! — may 
 he raise up faithful pastors for them both — Dudhope 
 and Wallace-Feus. Proposal also for the Mariners' 
 church. ■ A fast-day fixed for the present state of the 
 church." 
 
 "Aprils. Sabbath evening. — Spoke to twenty-four 
 young persons, one by one ; almost all aftected about 
 their souls." 
 
 "April 6. — Lovely ride and meditation in a retired 
 grove." 
 
 "April 7. — Impressed to-night with the complete 
 necessity of preaching to my people in their own 
 lanes and closes; in no other way will God's word 
 ever reach them. To-night spoke in St. Andrew's 
 church to a very crowded assembly in behalf of Israel. 
 Was helped to speak plainly to their own consciences. 
 Lord bless it ! Shake this town !" 
 
 "April 13. — Spoke in private to nearly thirty 
 young communicants, all in one room, going round 
 each, and advising for the benefit of all." 
 
152 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 '^.^pril 22. — Rode to Collessie (Fife) and Kirkaldy. 
 Sweet time alone in Collessie woods." 
 
 "•July 30. — One lad came to me in great distress 
 wishing to know if he should confess his little dis- 
 honesties to his master.'' About this time, he has 
 noted down, " I was visiting the other day, and came 
 to a locked door. What did this mean ? ' Torment 
 me, torment me not.' Ah, Satan is mighty still." — 
 referring to Mark v. 7. 
 
 A few of his communion seasons are recorded. We 
 could have desired a record of them all. The first of 
 which he has detailed any particulars, is the one he 
 enjoyed soon after returning home. 
 
 '^January 19, 1840. — Stormy morning, with gush- 
 ing torrents of rain, but cleared up in answer to 
 prayer. Sweet union in prayer with JNIr. Gumming, 
 and afterwards with A. Bonar. Found God in secret. 
 Asked especially that the very sight of the broken 
 bread and poured out wine might be blessed to some 
 souls; then pride will be hidden from man. Church 
 well filled — many standing. Preached the action 
 sermon on John xvii. 24, ' Father, I will,' &c. Had 
 considerable nearness to God in prayer — more than 
 usual — and also freedom in preaching, although I was 
 ashamed of such poor views of Christ's glory. The 
 people were in a very desirable frame of attention — 
 hanging on the word. Felt great help in fencing the 
 tables, from Acts v. 3, ' Lying to the Holy Ghost.' 
 Came down and served the first table, with much 
 more calmness and collectedness than ever I remem- 
 ber to have enjoyed. Enjoyed a sweet season while 
 A. B. served the next table. He dwelt chiefly on 
 believing the words of Christ about his fulness, and 
 the promise of the Father. There were six tables 
 altogether. The people more and more moved to the 
 end. At the last table, every head seemed bent like 
 a bulrush while A. B. spoke of the ascension of 
 Christ. Helped a little in the address, ^ Now to him 
 who is able to keep you,' &c., and in the concluding 
 prayer. One little boy, in retiring, said, ' This has 
 
REV, R. M. McCHEYNE. 153 
 
 been another bonnie day.' Many of the Uttle ones 
 seemed deeply attentive. Mr. Gumming and Mr. 
 Burns preached in the school the most of the day. In 
 the evening Mr. C. preached on the pillar of cloud on 
 every dwelling, Isaiah iv. 5, some very sweet, power- 
 fnl words. Mr. Burns preached in the school room. 
 When the church emptied, a congregation formed in 
 the lower school, and began to sing. Sang several 
 psalms with them, and spoke on ' Behold, I stand at 
 the door,' Going home, A. L. said, * Pray for me ; I 
 am quite happy, and so is H.' Altogether a day of 
 the revelation of Christ — a sweet day to myself, and, 
 1 am persuaded, to many souls. Lord, make us meet 
 for the table above.'' 
 
 Another of these communion seasons recorded is 
 April 1840. " Sabbath 19. — Sweet and precious day. 
 Preached action sermon on Zech. xii. 10 ; xiii. 1. A 
 good deal assisted. Also in fencing the tables, on 
 Psa, cxxxix., * Search me, God.' Less at serving 
 the tables, on ' I will betroth thee,' and ^ To him that 
 overcometh ;' though the thanksgiving was sweet. 
 Communicated wiUi calm joy. Old Mr. Burns 
 served two tables; H. Bonar five. There was a 
 very melting frame visible among the people. Helped 
 a good deal in the address on < My sheep hear my 
 voice.' After seven before all was over. Met be- 
 fore eight. Old Mr. Burns preached on ^A word in 
 season.' Gave three parting texts, and so concluded 
 this blessed day. Many were filled with joy un- 
 speakable and full of glory." 
 
 ''Monday 20. — Mr. Grierson preached on, ^ Ye 
 are come to Mount Zion' — an instructive word. 
 Pleasant walk with H. B. Evening sermon from 
 him to the httle children on the * new heart' — truly 
 delightful. Prayer-meeting after. I began ; then old 
 JNlr. Burns ; then Horace, in a very lively manner, 
 on the woman of Samaria. The people were brought 
 into a very tender frame. After the blessing, a mul- 
 titude remained. One (A. N.) was like a person 
 struck through witli a dart; she could neither stand 
 
154 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 nor go. Many were looking on her with faces of 
 horror. Others were comforting her in a very kind 
 manner, bidding her look to Jesus. Mr. Burns went 
 to the desk, and told them of Kilsyth. Still they 
 would not go away. Spoke a few words more to 
 those around me, telling them of the loveliness of 
 Christ, and the hardness of their hearts, that they 
 could be so unmoved when one was so deeply 
 wounded. The sobbing soon spread, till many heads 
 were bent down, and the church was filled with sob- 
 bing. Many whom I did not know were now affect- 
 ed. After prayer, we dismissed, near midnight. 
 Many followed us. One, in great agony, prayed 
 that she might find Christ that very night. So ends 
 this blessed season.^^ 
 
 The prayer-meeting on the Monday evening fol- 
 lowing the communion was generally enjoyed by all 
 the Lord's people, and by the ministers who assisted, 
 in a peculiar manner. Often all felt the last day of 
 the feast to be the great day. Souls that had been 
 enjoying the feast were then, at its conclusion, taking 
 hold on the arm of the Beloved in the prospect of 
 going up through the wilderness. 
 
 The only notice of his last communion, January 
 1, 1843, is the following: — ^' Sabbath — A happy com- 
 munion season. Mr. W. Burns preached on Tues- 
 day, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings — the first 
 and last very solemn. Mr. Baxter (of Hiilto wn 
 church) on the Friday. A. Bonar on Saturday, on 
 Rom. vih. — the Spirit of adoption. I fainted on the 
 Sabbath morning, but revived, and got grace and 
 strength to preach on 1 Tim. i. 16 — Paul's conversion 
 a pattern. There were five tables. Many godly 
 strangers, and a very desirable frame observable in 
 the people. "^ While the king sitteth at his table, my 
 spikenard sendeth out the smell thereof Much sin 
 was covered. He restoreth my soul. Monday 2. — 
 Mr. Milne (of Perth) preached on, ' Hold fast that 
 thou hast ;' and in the evening, to the children, on 
 Josh. xxiv. ' Choose ye this day whom ye will 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I55 
 
 serve.' Andrew and I concluded with Rev. v. 
 < Thou hast redeemed us/ &c., and 1 Cor. xv. ' Be 
 steadfast,' &c. 
 
 He dispensed the Lord's Supper to his flock every 
 quarter; and though on this account his calls upon his 
 brethren for help were frequent, yet never did a brother 
 reckon it anything else than a blessed privilege to be 
 with him. His first invitation to his friend, Mr. Ham- 
 ilton (then at Abernyte), will show the nature of the 
 intercourse that subsisted between him and his breth- 
 ren who gave their services on these occasions: — "]My 
 dear friend, Will you excuse lack of ceremony, and 
 come down to-morrow and preach to us the unsearch- 
 able riches of Christ ? We have the communion on 
 Sabbath. We have no fast-day, but only a meeting 
 in the evening at a quarter past seven. Come, my 
 dear sir, if you can, and refresh us with your com- 
 pany. Bring the fragrance of ^the bundle of myrrh' 
 along with you, and may grace be poured into your 
 lips. Yours ever." {Jan. 15. 1840.) 
 
 Soon after his return from his mission to the Jews, 
 a ministerial prayer-meeting was formed among some 
 of the brethren in Dundee. Mr. McCheyne took part 
 in it, along with Mr. Lewis of St. David's, Mr. Baxter 
 of Hilltown, Mr. P. L. Miller, afterwards of Wallace- 
 town, and others. Feeling deep concern for the sal- 
 vation of the souls under their care, they met every 
 Monday forenoon, to pray together for their flocks, 
 and their own souls. The time of the meeting was 
 limited to an hour and a half, in order that all who at- 
 tended might form their pastoral arrangements for the 
 day, without fear of being hindered; and, in addition 
 to prayer, those present conversed on some selected 
 topic, vitally connected with their duties as ministers 
 of Christ. Mr. JVIcCheyne was never absent from this 
 prayer-meeting, unless through absolute necessity, and 
 the brethren scarcely remember any occasion on 
 which some important remark did not drop from his 
 lips. He himself reaped great profit from it. He 
 notes, December Sth — "This has been a deeply inter- 
 esting week. On Monday our ministerial prayer- 
 
156 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 meeting was set agoing in St. David's vestry. The 
 hearts of all seem really in earnest in it. The Lord 
 answers prayer; may it be a great blessing to our 
 souls and to our flocks." Another time — "Meeting 
 in St. David's vestry. The subject of fasting was 
 spoken upon. Felt exceedingly in my own spirit 
 how little we feel real grief on account of sin before 
 God, or we would often lose our appetite for food. 
 When parents lose a child, they often do not taste a bit 
 from morning to night, out of pure grief. Should we 
 not mourn as for an only child? How litUe of the 
 spirit of grace and supplication we have then!" On 
 Dec. 30 — "Pleasant meeting of ministers. Many de- 
 lightful texts on < arguments to be used with God in 
 prayer.' How little I have used these ! Should we 
 not study prayer more?" 
 
 Full as he was of aftection and Christian kindness 
 to all believers, he was specially so to the faithful 
 brethren in the gospel of Christ. Perhaps there never 
 was one who more carefully watched against the dan- 
 ger of undervaluing precious men, and detracting from 
 a brother's character. Although naturally ambitious, 
 grace so wrought in him, that he never sought to bring 
 himself into view; and most cheerfully would he ob- 
 serve and take notice of the graces and gifts of others. 
 Who is there of us that should ever feel otherwise ? 
 "For the body is not one member, but many." 
 And "the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no 
 need of thee; nor, again, the head to the feet, I have 
 no need of you." 
 
 All with whom he was intimate still remember with 
 gratitude how faithfully and anxiously he used to 
 warn his friends of whatever he apprehended they 
 were in danger from. To Mr. W. C. Burns he wrote, 
 Bee. 31, 1839: "Now, the Lord be your strength, 
 teacher, and guide. I charge you, be clothed with 
 humility, or you will yet be a wandering star, for 
 which is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. 
 Let Christ increase; let man decrease. This is my 
 constant prayer for myself and you. If you lead sin- 
 ners to yourself, and not to Christ, Immanuel will 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I57 
 
 cast the star out of his risht hand mto outer darkness. 
 Remember what I said of preaching out of the Scrip- 
 tures; honour the word both m the matter and man- 
 ner. Do not cease to pray for me." At another time 
 {Nov. 3, 1841,) he thus wrote to the same friend: 
 " Now, remember Moses wist not that the skin of his 
 face shone. Looking at our own shining face is the 
 bane of the spiritual life and of the ministry. for 
 closest communion with God, till soul and body — • 
 head, face, and heart — shine with divine brilliancy; 
 but for a holy ignorance of our shining. Pray for 
 this; for you need it as well as I." 
 
 To another friend in the ministry who had written 
 to him despondingly about his people and the times, 
 his reply was, ^* I am sure there never was a time 
 when the Spirit of God was more present in Scotland, 
 and it does not become you to murmur in your tents, 
 but rather to give thanks. Remember, we may grieve 
 the Spirit as truly by not joyfully acknowledging his 
 wonders, as by not praying for him. There is the 
 clearest evidence that God is saving souls in Kilsyth, 
 Dundee, Perth, Collace, Blairgowrie, Strathbogie, 
 Ross-shire, Breadalbane, Kelso, Jedburgh, Ancrum; 
 and surely it becomes us to say, ' I thank my God 
 upon every remembrance of you.' Forgive my pre- 
 sumption; but I fear lest you hurt your own peace 
 and usefulness in not praising God enough for the 
 operation of his hands." To another: "I have told 
 you that you needed trial, and now it is come. May 
 you be exercised thereby, and come to that happy 
 • afterwards' of which the Apostle speaks." To the 
 same again : '^ Remember the necessity of your own 
 soul, and do not grow slack or lean in feeding others. 
 ^ Mine own vineyard have I not kept.' Ah, take heed 
 of that !" And in a similar tone of faithfulness at an 
 after period: *" Remember the case of your own soul. 
 ^ What will it profit a man to gain the whole world 
 and lose his own soul?' Remember how often Paul 
 appeals to his holy, just, unblamable life. that we 
 may be able always to do the same !" " Remember 
 the pruning-knife," he says to another, " and do not 
 
 14 
 
158 
 
 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 let yonr vine rim to wood.'' And after a visit to Mr. 
 Thornton of Milnathort, in wliose parish there had 
 been an awakening, he asks a brother, " Mr. Thorn- 
 ton is wilUng that others be blessed more than him- 
 self; do yon think that you have that grace? I find 
 that I am never so successful as when I can lie at 
 Christ's feet, willing to be used or not as seemeth good 
 in his sight. Do you remember David? ' If the Lord 
 say, I have no delight in thee ; behold, here am I ; let 
 him do to me as seemeth good unto him.' " In his 
 familiar letters, as in his life, there was the manifesta- 
 tion of a bright, cheerful soul, without the least ten- 
 dency to levity. When his medical attendant had, on 
 one occasion, declined any remuneration, Mr. Mc- 
 Cheyne peremptorily opposed his purpose ;. and to 
 overcome his reluctance, returned the inclosure in a 
 letter, in which he used his poetical gifts with most 
 pleasant humour. 
 
 To many it was a subject of wonder that he found 
 time to write letters that always breathed the name 
 of Jesus, amid his innumerable engagements. But 
 the truth was, his letters cost him no expenditure of 
 time ; they were ever the fresh thoughts and feelings 
 of his soul at the moment he took up the pen ; his 
 habitual frame of soul is what appears in them all. 
 The calm, holy, tenderly-affectionate style of his let- 
 ters reminds us of Samuel Rutherford, whose works 
 he delighted to read — excepting only that his joy 
 never seems to have risen to ecstasies. The selection 
 of his letters which I have made for publication, may 
 exhibit somewhat of his holy skill in dropping a word 
 for his Master on all occasions. But what impressed 
 many yet more, was his manner of introducing the 
 truth, most naturally and strikingly, even in the 
 shortest note he penned ; and there was something so 
 elegant, as well as solemn, in his few words at the 
 close of some of his letters, that these remained deep 
 in the receiver's heart. Writing to Mr. G. S. on 
 July 28, 1841, he thus draws to a close: "Remem- 
 ber me to H. T. I pray he may be kept abiding in 
 Christ. Kindest regards to his mother. Say to her 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I59 
 
 from me, 'Pass the time of your sojourning here in 
 fear, forasmuch as ye know ye were not redeemed 
 witli corruptible things such as silver and gold ;' 
 1 Peter i. 17, 18. Keep your own heart, dear brother, 
 ' in the love of God' (Jude 21,) in his love to you, and 
 that will draw your love to him. Kindest remem- 
 brances to your brother. Say to him, * Be sober and 
 hope to the end.' (1 Peter i. 13.) To your own dear 
 motiier say, ' He doth not afflict willingly.' Write 
 me soon. — Ever yours, till time shall be no more." 
 In a note to the members of his own family: — "The 
 Tay is before me now like a resplendent mirror, 
 glistening in the morning sun. May the same sun 
 shine sweetly on you, and may He that makes it 
 shine, shine into your hearts to give you the know- 
 ledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. — 
 In haste, your atfectionate son and brother." There 
 were often such last words as the following — " for 
 drops in the pastures of the wilderness ! The smiles 
 of Jesus be with you, and the breathing of the Holv 
 Ghost. Everyours." (To Rev. J. Milne.) "May 
 we have gales passing from Perth to this, and from 
 here to you, and from heaven to both. Ever yours." 
 (To the same.) " The time is short; eternity is near; 
 yea, the coming of Christ the second time is at hand. 
 Make sure of being one with the Lord Jesus, that 
 you may be glad when you see him. Commending 
 you all to our Father in heaven," &c. (To his own 
 brother.) "I have a host of letters before me, and 
 therefore can add no more. I give you a parting 
 text, ' Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.' " Another 
 — "Farewell ! yours till the day dawn." (Rev. Hor. 
 Bonar.) " I am humbled and cheered by what you 
 say of good done in Kelso. Roll on, roll on, river of 
 God, that art full of water. A woman came to me, 
 awakened under your sermon to the children in the 
 Cross church, very bitterly convinced of sin. Glory 
 to the Divine Archer, who bringeth down the peo- 
 ple !" (To a student.) "Grace be with you, and 
 much of the knowledge of Jesus — much of his like- 
 ness. I thirst for the knowledge of the word, but 
 
160 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 most of all of Jesus himself, the true Word. May he 
 abide in you, and you in him ! The fear of Isaac 
 watch over you.'' In concluding a letter to Mr. 
 Bonar of Larbert, in February 1843, some weeks 
 before his last iUness, he writes — " My soul often goes 
 out at the throne of grace in behalf of Larbert and 
 Dunipace. May the disruption be more blessed to 
 them than days of peace ! How sweet to be in the 
 ark when the deluge comes down. Ever yours in 
 gospel bonds.'' 
 
 The Jewish mission continued near his heart, '^the 
 nearest," said he to Mr. Edwards, who is now at 
 Jassy, "of all missionary enterprises. Were it not for 
 my own unfitness, and also the success the J^ord has 
 given me where I am, I would joyfully devote myself 
 to it." In connection with this cause, he was invited 
 to visit Ireland, and be present at the meeting of the 
 Synod of our Presbyterian brethren in the summer of 
 1S40. While preparing to set out, he notices the hand 
 of his Master guiding him: — ^^ July 2. — Expected to 
 have been in Ireland this day. Detained by not being 
 able to get supply for Sabbath. In the good provi- 
 dence of God, for this evening there was a considera- 
 ble awakening in the church while I was preaching 
 upon Philip, iii. IS, 'Enemies of the cross of Christ.' 
 When that part was expounded, there was a loud and 
 bitter weeping — probably thirty or forty seemed to 
 share in it ; the rest deeply impressed — many secretly 
 praying." On the Sabbath following, one person was 
 so overcome as to be carried out of the church. 
 
 He set out for Ireland on the 7th, and on the 10th 
 witnessed at Belfast the union between the Synod of 
 Ulster and the Secession. He speaks of it as a most 
 solemn scene — five hundred ministers and elders pre- 
 sent. During his stay there, he pleaded the cause of 
 the Jews in Mr. Morgan's church, Mr. Wilson's, and 
 some others; and also visited Mr. Kirkpatrick at Dub- 
 lin. He preached the way of salvation to the Gen- 
 tiles, in all his pleadings for Israel. His visit was 
 blessed to awaken a deep interest in the cause of the 
 JewS; and his words sank into the consciences of some. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 161 
 
 His sermon on Ezekiel xxxiv. 16, was felt by some 
 to be indescribably impressive ; and when he preached 
 on Rom. i. 16, 17, many ministers, as they came out, 
 were heard saying, " How was it we never thought 
 of the duty of remembering Israel before?" On an- 
 other occasion, the people to whom he had preached 
 entreated their minister to try and get him again, and 
 if he could not preach to them, that at least he should 
 pray once more with them. 
 
 He was not, however, long absent from home on 
 this occasion. On the 25th, I find him recording — 
 " Reached home. Entirely unprepared for the even- 
 ing. Spoke on Psalm li. 12, 13, 'Restore unto me 
 the joy,' &c. There seemed much of the presence of 
 God — first one crying out in extreme agony, then an- 
 other. Many were deeply melted, and all solemnized. 
 Felt a good deal of freedom in speaking of the glory 
 of Christ's salvation. Coming down, I spoke quietly 
 to some whom I knew to be under deep concern. 
 They were soon heard together, weeping bitterly; 
 many more joined them. Mr. Cumming spoke to 
 them in a most touching strain, while 1 dealt privately 
 with several in the vestry. Their cries were often 
 very bitter and piercing, bitterest when the freeness 
 of Christ was pressed upon them, and the lion's near- 
 ness. Several were offended; but I felt no hesitation 
 as to our duty to declare the simple truth impressively, 
 and leave God to work in their hearts in his own way. 
 If he save souls in a quiet way, I shall be happy; if 
 in the midst of cries and tears, still I will bless his 
 name. One painful thing has occurred: a man who 
 pretends to be a missionary for Israel, and who brings 
 forward the Apocryphal book of Enoch, has been 
 among my people, in my absence, and many have 
 been led after him. How humbling is this to them 
 and to me ! Lord, what is man ! This may be blessed, 
 1st, To discover chaff which we thought to be wheat; 
 2d, To lead some to greater distrust of themselves, 
 when their eyes are opened; Sd, To teach me the 
 need of solidly instructing those who seem to have 
 grace in their hearts." 
 
 14* 
 
162 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 The work of God went on, so much so at this time, 
 that he gave it as his beUef, in a letter to Mr. Pnrves 
 of Jedburgh, that for some months about this period no 
 minister of Christ had preached in a hvely manner, 
 without being blessed to some soul among his flock. 
 
 In other places of Scotland also the Lord was then 
 pouring out his Spirit. Perth has been already men- 
 tioned, and its vicinity. Throughout Ross-shire, 
 whole congregations were frequently moved as one 
 man, and the voice of the minister drowned in the 
 cries of anxious souls. At Kelso, where Mr. Horace 
 Bonar laboured, and at Jedburgh, where Mr. Purves 
 was pastor, a more silent, but very solid work of con- 
 version was advancing. At Ancrum (once the scene 
 of John Livingston's labours), the whole parish, but 
 especially the men of the place, were awakened to 
 the most solemn concern. On Lochtay side, where 
 Mr. Burns was for a season labouring, there were 
 marks of the Spirit every where; and the people 
 crossing the lake in hundreds, to listen to the words 
 of life on the hill-side, called to mind the people of 
 Galilee in the days when the Gospel began to be 
 preached. At Lawers, their pastor, Mr. Campbell, 
 spoke of the awakening as "like a resurrection," 
 so great and sudden was the change from deadness 
 to intense concern. On several occasions, the Spirit 
 seemed to sweep over the congregations like wind 
 over the fields, which bends the heavy corn to the 
 earth. It was evident to discerning minds, that the 
 Lord was preparing Scotland for some crisis not far 
 distant. 
 
 Several districts of Strathbogie had shared.to some 
 extent in a similar blessing. Faithful ministers were 
 now ever}^ where on the watch for the shower, and 
 were greatly strengthened to go forward boklly in 
 seeking to cleanse the sanctuary. It was their fond 
 hope that the Established Church of Scotland would 
 soon become an example and pattern to the nations 
 of a pure Church of Christ, acknowledged and upheld 
 by tlie State, without being trammelled in any degree^ 
 
REV. R. M, McCHEYNE. 163 
 
 far less controlled by civil interference. But Satan 
 was stirring up adversaries on every side. 
 
 The Court of Session had adopted a line of pro- 
 cedure that was at once arbitrary and unconstitutional. 
 And now that Court interdicted, under the penalty 
 of fine or imprisonment, all the ministers of the 
 Church of Scotland from administering ordinances or 
 preaching the word in any of the seven parishes of 
 Strathbogie, whose former incumbents had been sus- 
 pended from office by the General Assembly, for 
 ecclesiastical offences. The Church saw it to be her 
 duty to refuse obedience to an interdict, which hin- 
 dered the preaching of Jesus, and attempted to crush 
 her constitutional liberties. Accordingly, ministers 
 were sent to these districts, fearless of the result ; and 
 under their preaching the gross darkness of the region 
 began to give way to the light of truth. 
 
 In the month of August, Mr. McCheyne was ap- 
 pointed, along with Mr. Cumming of Dumbarney, to 
 visit Hunth^, and dispense the Lord's Supper there. 
 As he set out he expressed the hope, that "the dews 
 of the Spirit there might be turned into the pouring 
 rain.^^ His own visit was blessed to many. Mr. Cum- 
 ming preached the action sermon in the open air at 
 the meadow well; but the tables were served within 
 the building where the congregation usually met. 
 Mr. McCheyne preached in the evening to a vast 
 multitude at the well ; and about a hundred waited 
 after sermon for prayer, many of them in deep anx- 
 iety. 
 
 He came to Edinburgh on the 11th, to attend the 
 meeting of ministers and elders who had come to- 
 gether to sign the Solemn Engagement in defence 
 of the liberties of Christ's Church. He hesitated not 
 to put his hand to the engagement. He then re- 
 turned to Dundee ; and scarcely had he returned, 
 when he was laid aside by one of those attacks of 
 illness with which he was so often tried. In this 
 case, however, it soon passed away. "My health," 
 he remarked, "has taken a gracious turn, which 
 
164 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 should make me look np." Bat again, on Septem- 
 ter 6th, an attack of fever laid him down for six days. 
 On this occasion, just before the sickness came on, 
 three persons had visited him, to tell him how they 
 were brought to Christ under his ministry some years 
 before. "Why," he noted in his journal '' Why has 
 God brought these cases before me this week? Sure- 
 ly he is preparing me for some trial of faith." The 
 result proved that his conjecture was just. And 
 while his Master prepared him beforehand for these 
 trials, he had ends to accomplish in his servant by 
 means of them. There were other trials also, besides 
 these, which were very heavy to him; but in all he 
 could discern the husbandman pruning the branch, 
 that it might bear more fruit. As he himself said 
 one day in the church of Abernyte, when he was 
 assisting Mr. Manson, '• If we only saw the whole, 
 we would see that the Father is doing little else in 
 the world but training his vines.^' 
 
 His preaching became more and more to him a 
 work of faith. Often I find him writing at the close 
 or beginning of a sermon : — " Master, help ;" " Help, 
 Lord, help;" "send showers;" "Pardon, give the 
 Spirit, and take the glory;" "May the opening of my 
 lips be right things." The piercing effects of the 
 word preached on souls at this season may be judged 
 of, from what one of the awakened, with whom he 
 was conversing, said to him, "/ think hell would be 
 some relief from an angry God.''^ 
 
 His delight in preaching was very great. He him- 
 self used to say that he could scarcely ever resist an 
 invitation to preach. And this did not arise from the 
 natural excitement there is in commanding the atten- 
 tion of thousands ; for he was equally ready to pro- 
 claim Christ to small country flocks. Nay, he was 
 ready to travel far to visit and comfort even one soul. 
 There was an occasion this year on which he rode 
 far to give a cup of cold water to a disciple, and his 
 remark was, " I observe how often Jesus went a long 
 way for one soul, as for example the maniac, and the 
 woman of Canaan." 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 165 
 
 In February, 1841, he visited Kelso and Jedburgh 
 at the communion season ; and gladly complied with 
 an invitation to Ancrum, also, that he might witness 
 the hand of the Lord. " Sweet are the spots," he 
 wrote, " where Immanuel has ever shown his glori- 
 ous power in the conviction and conversion of sinners. 
 The world loves to muse on the scenes where battles 
 were fought and victories won. Should not we love 
 the spots where our great Captain has won his amaz- 
 ing victories? Is not the conversion of a soul more 
 worthy to be spoken of than the taking of Acre ?" 
 At Kelso, there were some who long remembered 
 his remarks in visiting a little girl, to whom he said 
 " Christ gives last knocks. When your heart be- 
 comes hard and careless, then fear lest Christ may 
 have given a last knock.^^ At Jedburgh, the im- 
 pression left was chiefly that there had been among 
 them a man of peculiar holiness. Some felt, not so 
 much his words, as his presence and holy solemnity, 
 as if one spoke to them who was standing in the 
 presence of God ; and to others his prayers appeared 
 like the breathings of one already within the veil. 
 
 I find him proposing to a minister who was going 
 lip to the General Assembly that year, " that the As- 
 sembly should draw out a Confession of Sin, for all 
 its ministers." The state, also, of parishes under the 
 direful influence of Moderatism, lay much upon his 
 spirit. In his diary he writes — "Have been laying 
 much to heart the absolute necessity laid upon the 
 Church of sending the gospel to our dead parishes, 
 during the life of the present incumbents. It is con- 
 fessed that many of our ministers do not preach the 
 gospel — alas ! because they know it not. Yet they 
 have complete control over their own pulpits, and 
 may never suff'er the truth to be heard there during 
 their whole incumbency. And yet our Church con- 
 signs these parishes to their tender mercies for per- 
 haps fifty years, without a sieh ! Should not certain 
 men be ordained as Evangelists, with full power to 
 preach in every pulpit of their district — faithful, judi- 
 cious, lively preachers, who may go from parish to 
 
166 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 parish, and thus carry life into many a dead corner?'' 
 This was a subject he often reverted to; and l^e 
 eagerly held up the example of the Presbytery of 
 Aberdeen, who made a proposal to this effect. From 
 some of his later letters, it appears that he had some- 
 times seriously weighed the duty of giving up his 
 fixed charge, if only the Church would ordain him 
 as an Evangelist. So deep were his feelings on this 
 matter, that a friend relates of him, that as they rode 
 together through a parish where the pastor "clothed 
 himself with wool, but fed not the flock," he knit his 
 brow and raised his hand with vehemence as he 
 spoke of the people left to perish under such a minister. 
 
 He was invited to visit Ireland again this year, his 
 former visit having been much valued by the Presby- 
 terian brethren there. He did so in July. Many were 
 greatly stirred up by his preaching, and by his details 
 of God's work in Scotland. His sermon on Song viii. 
 5, 6, is still spoken of by many. His prayerfulness 
 and consistent holiness left enduring impressions on 
 not a few ; and it was during his visit that a memorial 
 was presented to the Irish Assembly in behalf of a 
 Jewish mission. His visit was in a great measure the 
 means of setting that mission on foot. 
 
 Cordially entering into the proposal of the concert 
 for prayer, he took part, in September of this year, in 
 the preliminary meetings in which Christians of all 
 denominations joined. " How sweet are the smallest 
 approximations to unity," is his remark in his diary. 
 Indeed, he so much longed for a scriptural unity, that 
 some time after, when the General Assembly had 
 repealed the statute of 1799, he embraced the opportu- 
 nity of showing his sincere desire for unity by inviting 
 two dissenting brethren to his pulpit, and then writing 
 in defence of his conduct when attacked. In refer- 
 ence to this matter, he observed, in a note to a friend 
 — " I have been much delighted with the 25th and 
 26th chapters of the Confession -of Faith. for the 
 grace of the Westminster divines to be poured out 
 upon this generation of lesser men !" 
 
 As it was evident that his Master owned his labour 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 1(j7 
 
 abundantly, by giving him seals of his apostleship, 
 there were attempts made occasionally by zealous 
 friends to induce him to remove to other spheres. In 
 all these cases, he looked simply at the apparent indi- 
 cations of the Lord's will. Worldly interest seemed 
 scarcely ever to cross his mind in regard to such a 
 matter, for he truly lived a disinterested life. His 
 views may be judged of by one instance — a letter to 
 Mr. Heriot of Ramornie, in reference to a charge 
 which many were anxious to offer him. 
 
 "Dundee, 24th December, 1841. 
 
 *' Dear Sir, — I have received a letter from my 
 friend Mr. McFarlane of Collessie, asking Avhat I 
 would do if the people of Kettle were to write desiring 
 me to be their minister. He also desires me to send 
 an aiiswer to you. I have been asked to leave this 
 place again and again, but have never seen my way 
 clear to do so. I feel quite at the disposal of my Di- 
 vine Master. I gave myself away to him when I 
 began my ministry, and he has guided me as by the 
 pillar of cloud from the first day till now. I think I 
 would leave this place to-morrow if he were to bid 
 me; but as to seeking removal, I dare not and could 
 not. If my ministry were unsuccessful — if God 
 frowned upon the place and made my message void — 
 then I would willingly go; for I would rather beg 
 my bread than preach without success; but I have 
 never wanted success. I do not think I can speak a 
 month in this parish without winning some souls. 
 This very week I think has been a fruitful one, more 
 so than many for a long time, which perhaps was 
 intended graciously to free me from all hesitation in. 
 declining your kind offer. I mention these things, 
 not, I trust, boastfully, but only to show you the 
 ground upon which I feel it to be my duty not for a 
 moment to entertain the proposal. I have four thou- 
 sand souls here hanging on me. I have as much of 
 this world's goods as I care for. I have full liberty to 
 preach the gospel night and day; and the Spirit of 
 God is often with us. What can I desire more ? ^ I 
 
168 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 dwell among mine own people.' Hundreds look to 
 me as a father ; and I fear I would be but a false 
 shepherd if I were to leave them when the clouds of 
 adversity are beginning to lower. I know the need 
 of Kettle, and its importance; and also the dark pros- 
 pect of your getting a godly minister. Still that is a 
 future event in the hand of God. My duty is made 
 plain and simple according to God's word. 
 
 ^' Praying that the Lord Jesus may send you a star 
 from his own right hand, believe me to be," &c. 
 
 It was during this year that the Sabbath question 
 began to interest him so much. His tract, " I love 
 the Lord's day," was published December ISth; but 
 he had already exerted himself much in this cause, as 
 Convener of the Committee of Presbytery on Sabbath 
 Observance, and had written his well-known letter to 
 one of the chief defenders of the Sabbath desecration. 
 He continued unceasingly to use every effort in this 
 holy cause. And is it not worth the prayers and 
 self-denying efforts of every believing man? Is not 
 that day set apart as a season wherein the Lord de- 
 sires the refreshing rest of his own love to be ofiered 
 to a fallen world? Is it not designed to be a day on 
 which every other voice EUid sound is to be hushed, 
 in order that the silver trumpets may proclaim atone- 
 ment for sinners? Nay, it is understood to be a day 
 wherein God himself stands before the altar and 
 pleads w^ith sinners to accept the Lamb slain, from 
 morning to evening ! Who is there that does not see 
 the deep design of Satan in seeking to effect an inroad 
 on this most merciful appointment of God our Sa- 
 viour? 
 
 Mr. McCheyne's own conduct was in full accord- 
 ance with his principles in regard to strict yet cheer- 
 ful Sabbath observance. Considering it the summit 
 of human privilege to be admitted to fellowship with 
 God, his principle was, that the Lord's day was to be 
 spent wholly in the enjoyment of that sweetest privi- 
 lege. A letter, written at a later period, but bearing 
 on this subject, will show how he felt this day to b&_^ 
 better than a thousand. An individual near Inver- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 169 
 
 ness had consulted him on a point of Sabbatical casu- 
 istry : the question was, Whether or not it was sinful to 
 spend time in registering meteorological observations 
 on the Sabbaths? His reply was the following, mark- 
 ed by a holy wisdom, and discovering the place which 
 the Lord held in his inmost soul. 
 
 ''December 7, 1842. 
 
 " Dear Friend,— You ask me a hard question. 
 Had you asked me ivhat I would do in the case, I 
 could easily tell you. I love the Lord's day too well 
 to be marking down the height of the thermometer 
 and barometer every hour. I have other work to do, 
 higher and better, and more like that of angels above. 
 The more entirely I can give my Sabbaths to God, 
 and half forget that I am not before the throne of the 
 Lamb, with my harp of gold, the happier am I, and 
 I feel it my duty to be as happy as I can be, and as 
 God intended me to be. The joy of the Lord is my 
 strength. But whether another Christian can spend 
 the Sabbath in his service, and mark down degrees 
 of heat and atmospherical pressure, without letting 
 down the warmth of his affections, or losing the at- 
 mosphere of heaven, I cannot tell. My conscience is 
 not the rule of another man. One thing we may 
 learn from these men of science, namely, to be as 
 careful in marking the changes and progress of our 
 own spirit, as they are in marking the changes of the 
 weather. An hour should never pass without our 
 looking up to God for forgiveness and peace. This 
 is the noblest science, to know how to live in hourly 
 communion v/ith God in Christ. May yon and I 
 know more of this, and thank God that we are not 
 among the wise and prudent from whom these things 
 are hid ! — The grace of the Lord of the Sabbath be 
 wiih you," &c. 
 
 Up to this period, the Narrative of our Mission 
 to Israel had not been given to the public. Literrup- 
 tions, arising from multiplicity of labours and con- 
 stant calls of duty, had from time to time come in our 
 
 15 
 
170 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 way. Mr. ^NlcCheyiie found it exceedingly diiiicult 
 to spare a day or two at a time in order to take part. 
 " I find it hard work to carry on the work of a diUsrent 
 pastor and that of an author at the same time. How 
 John Calvin would have smiled at my ditficulties!" 
 At length, however, in the month of INIarch 1842, we 
 resolved to gain time by exchanging each other's pas- 
 toral duties for a month. Accordingly, during four or 
 five weeks, he remained in CoUace, my flock enjoying 
 his Sabbath-day services and his occasional visits, 
 while he was set free from what would have been 
 the never-ceasing interruptions of his own town. 
 
 Many a pleasant remembrance remains of these 
 days, as sheet after sheet passed under the eyes of 
 our mutual criticism. Though intent on accomplish- 
 ing his work, he kept by his rule, '^ that he must first 
 see the face of God before he could undertake any 
 duty." Often would he wander in the mornings among 
 the pleasant woods of Dunsinnan, till he had drunk 
 in refreshment to his soul by meditation on the word 
 of God ; and then he took up the pen. And to a 
 brother in the ministry, who had one day broken in 
 upon his close occupation, he afterwards wrote — " You 
 know you stole away my day; yet I trust all was not 
 lost. 1 think I have had more grace ever since that 
 prayer among the fir-trees. to be like Jacob, and 
 with him to all eternity." Occasionally, during the 
 same period, he wrote some pieces for the " Chris- 
 tian's Daily Companion." The narrative was finished 
 in May, and the Lord has made it acceptable to the 
 brethren. 
 
 When this work was finished, the Lord had other 
 employment ready for him in his own parish. His 
 diary has this entry : '-'May 22d — I have seen some 
 very evident awakenings of late. J. G. awakened 
 partly through the word preached, and partly through 
 the faithful warnings of her fellow-servant. A. R., 
 who has been for about a year in the deepest distress, 
 seeking rest, but finding none. B. M. converted last 
 winter at the Tuesday meeting in Annfield. She was 
 brought very rapidly to peace with God, and to a 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 171 
 
 calm, sedate, prayerful state of mind. I was sm*- 
 prised at the quickness of the work in this case, and 
 pleased with the clear tokens of grace; and now I see 
 God's gracious end in it. She was to be admitted at 
 last communion, but caught fever before the Sabbath. 
 On Tuesday last, she died in great peace and joy. 
 When she felt death coming on, she said, ' death, 
 death, come ! let us sing V jNIany that knew her have 
 been a good deal moved homeward by this solemn 
 providence. This evening, I invited those to come 
 who are leaving the parish at this term. About twenty 
 came, to whom I gave tracts and words of warning. 
 I Jeel 2jersuaded that if I could foUoiu the Lord 
 tnore fully myself my ministry icould he used to 
 make a deeper imjiression than it has yet done^ 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE LATTER DAYS OF HIS MINISTRY. 
 
 My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work. 
 
 John iv. 34. 
 
 During the summer of 1S42, he was exposed to 
 several attacks of illness, experienced some severe 
 personal trials, and felt the assaults of sore temptation. 
 His own words will best express his state. '^July 17th 
 — I am myself much tempted, and have no hope, but 
 as a worm on the arm of Jesus." ''•August 4th — 
 Often, often, would I have been glad to depart, and 
 be with Christ. I am now much better in body and 
 mind, having a little of the presence of my beloved, 
 whose absence is death to me.'' The same month — 
 "I have been carried through deep waters, bodily 
 and spiritual, since last we met." It was his own 
 persuasion that few had more to struggle with in the 
 inner man. Who can tell what wars go on within ? 
 During this season of trial, he was invited to form 
 
172 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 one of a number of ministers from Scotland, who were 
 to visit the north of England, with no other purpose 
 than to preach the glad tidings. The scheme was 
 planned by a Christian gentleman, who has done mnch 
 for Christ in his generation. When the invitation 
 reached him, he was in the heat of his furnace. He 
 mentioned this to the brother who corresponded with 
 him on the subject, Mr. Purves of Jedburgh, whose 
 reply was balm to his spirit. . . . "I have a fel- 
 low-feeling with you in your present infirmity, and 
 you know for your consolation that another has, who 
 is a brother indeed. In all our afiiictions, he is af- 
 flicted. He is, we may say, the common heart of his 
 people ; for they are one body, and an infirmity in 
 the very remotest and meanest member is felt there, 
 and borne there. Let us console, solace, yea, satiate 
 ourselves in him, as, amid afflictions especially, bro- 
 ther does in brother. It is blessed to be like him in 
 every thing, even in suffering. There is a great want 
 about all Christians who have not suffered. Some 
 flowers must be broken or bruised before they emit 
 any fragrance. All the wounds of Christ sent out 
 sweetness — all the sorrows of Christians do the same. 
 Commend me to a bruised brother, a broken reed — 
 one like the Son of Man. The man of sorrows is 
 never far from him. To me there is something sacred 
 and. sweet in all suffering; it is so much akin to the 
 Man of Sorrows.'' It was thus he suffered, and thus 
 that he was comforted. He wrote back, agreeing to 
 go, and added, "Remember me especially, who am 
 heavy laden oftentimes. My heart is all of sin ; but 
 Jesus lives.'' 
 
 They set out for England. Mr. Purves, Mr. Somer- 
 ville of Anderston, Mr. Cumming of Dumbarney, and 
 Mr. Bonar of Kelso, formed the company. Their 
 chief station was Newcastle, where Mr. Burns had 
 been recently labouring with some success, and where 
 he had seen "a town giving itself up to utter ungod- 
 liness — a town, where Satan's trenches were deep 
 and wide, his wall strong and high, his garrison great 
 and fearless^ and where all that man could do seemed 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I73 
 
 but as arrows shot against a tower of brass." But 
 those who went knew that the Spirit of God was 
 omnipotent, and that he could take the prey from the 
 mishty. 
 
 They preached both in the open air and in the 
 places of worship belonging to the Presbyterians and 
 to the Wesleyan Methodists. The defenders of the 
 Sabbath cause were specially prepared to welcome 
 IMr. JNIcCheyne, whose tract on the Lord's day had 
 been widely circulated and blessed. Many were 
 attracted to hear; interesting congregations assembled 
 in the market-place, and there is reason to believe 
 many were impressed. A person in the town des- 
 cribes JNIr. McCheyne's last address as being pecu- 
 liarly awakening. He preached in the open air, in a 
 space of ground between the corn-market and St. 
 Nicholas' church. Above a thousand souls were 
 present, and the service continued till ten, without 
 one person moving from the ground. The moon 
 shone brightly, and the sky was spangled with stars. 
 His subject was, '■' The great wliite Throne," (Rev. 
 XX. 11). In concluding his address, he told them, 
 " that they would never meet again till they all met 
 at the judgment-seat of Christ ; but the glorious 
 heavens over their heads, and the bright moon that 
 shone upon them, and the old venerable church 
 behind them, were his witnesses that he had, set 
 before them life and death." Some will have cause 
 to remember that night through eternity.* 
 
 His preaching at Gilsland also was not without 
 effect ; and he had good cause to bless the Lord for 
 bringing him through Dumfries-shire in his way 
 homeward. He returned to his people in the begin- 
 ning of September, full of peace and joy. " I have 
 returned much stronger, indeed quite well. I think I 
 have got some precious souls for my hire on my way 
 home. I earnestly long for more grace and personal 
 holiness, and more usefulness." 
 
 * He afterwards preached the same subject with equal impressive- 
 ness in the Meadows at Dundee. It was in the open air, and the 
 rain fell heavy, yet the dense crowd stood still to the last. 
 
 15^ 
 
174 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 The sun-sets during that autumn were peculiarly 
 beautiful. Scarcely a day passed but he gazed upon 
 the glowing west after dinner ; and as he gazed he 
 would speak of the Sun of Righteousness, or the joy 
 of angels in his presence, or the blessedness of those 
 whose sun can no more go down, till his face shone 
 with gladness as he spoke. And during the winter, 
 he was observed to be pecuharly joyful, being strong 
 m body, and feehng the near presence of Jesus in 
 his soul. He lived in the blessed consciousness that 
 he was a child of God, humble and meek, just be- 
 cause he was fully assured that Jehovah was his 
 God and Father. Many often felt that in prayer the 
 name "Holy Father'^ was breathed with peculiar 
 tenderness and solemnity from his lips. 
 
 His flock in St. Peter's began to murmur at his 
 absence when again he left them for ten days in 
 November, to assist Mr. Hamilton of Regent Square, 
 London, at his communion. But it was his desire 
 for souls that thus led him from place to place, com- 
 bined with a growing feeling that the Lord was call- 
 ing him to evangelistic more than to pastoral labours. 
 This visit was a blessed one, and the growth of his 
 soul in holiness was visible to many. During the 
 days of his visit to Mr. Hamilton, lie read through 
 the song of Solomon at the time of family worship, 
 commenting briefly on it with rare gracefulness and 
 poetic taste, and yet rarer manifestation of soul-filling 
 love to the Saviour's person. The sanctified affec- 
 tions of his soul, and his insight into the mind of 
 Jesus, seemed to have much aff'ected his friends on 
 these occasions. 
 
 Receiving while here an invitation to return by the 
 way of Kelso, he replied: — 
 
 "London, Nov. 5, 1842. 
 "My Dear Horatius, — Our friends here will not 
 let me away till the Friday morning, so that it will 
 require all my diligence to reach Dundee before the 
 Sabbath. I will thus be disappointed of the joy of 
 seeing you, and ministering a word to your dear flock. 
 that my soul were new moulded, and I were eftec- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. I75 
 
 tnally called a second time, and made a vessel full of 
 the Spirit, to tell only of Jesus and his love. I fear I 
 shall never be in this world what I desire. I have 
 preached three times here ; a few tears also have been 
 shed. for Whitfield's week in London, when a thou- 
 sand letters came ? The same Jesus reigns; the same 
 Spirit is able. Why is he restrained ? Is the sin 
 ours ? Are we the bottle stoppers of these heavenly 
 dews ? Ever yours till glory. ^' 
 
 " P. S. — W^e shall meet, God willing, at the Convo- 
 cation.'^ 
 
 The memorable Convocation met at Edinburgh on 
 November 17th. There were five hundred ministers 
 present from all parts of Scotland. The encroachment 
 of the civil courts upon the prerogatives of Christ, the 
 only Head acknowledged by our Church, and the 
 negligent treatment hitherto given by the legislature 
 of the country to every remonstrance on the part of 
 the Church, had brought on a crisis. The Church of 
 Scotland had maintained from the days of the Refor- 
 mation that her connection with the State was under- 
 stood to imply no surrender whatsoever of complete 
 independence in regulating all spiritual matters; and 
 to have allowed any civil authority to control her in 
 doctrine, discipline, or any spiritual act, would have 
 been a daring and flagrant act of treachery to her 
 Lord and King. The deliberations of the Convoca- 
 tion continued during eight days, and the momentous 
 results are well known in the land. 
 
 Mr. McCheyne was never absent from any of the 
 diets of this solemn assembly. He felt the deepest 
 interest in every matter that came before them, got 
 great light as to the path of duty in the course of the 
 consultations, and put his name to all the resolutions, 
 heartily sympathizing in the decided determination 
 that, as a Church of Christ, we must abandon our con- 
 nection with the State, if our " Claim of Risrhts" were 
 rejected. These eight days were times of remarkable 
 union and prayerfulness. The proceedings, from time 
 to time, were suspended till the brethren had again 
 asked counsel of the Lord by prayer; and none pre- 
 
176 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 sent will forget the affecting solemnity with which, on 
 one occasion, Mr. INIcCheyne poured out our wants 
 before the Lord. 
 
 He had a decided abhorrence of Erastianism. 
 When the question Avas put to hinij *^ Is it our duty 
 to refuse ordination to any one who holds the views 
 of Erastianism ?" he replied — " Certainly, whatever 
 be his other qualifications. ^' He was ever a thorough 
 Presbyterian, and used to maintain the necessity of 
 abolishing lay patronage, because, 1. It was not to 
 be found in the word of God; 2. It destro^^ed the 
 duty of "trying the spirits;" 3. It meddled with the 
 headship of Christ, coming in between him and his 
 people, saying, " I will place the stars." But still 
 more decided was he in regard to the spiritual inde- 
 pendence of the Church. This he reckoned a vital 
 question; and in prospect of the disruption of the 
 Church of Scotland, if it were denied, he stated at a 
 public meeting — 1st, That it was to be deplored in 
 some respects, viz., because of the sufferings of God's 
 faithful servants, the degradation of those wlio re- 
 mained behind, the alienation of the aristocracy, the 
 perdition of the ungodly, and the sin of the nation. 
 But, 2d, it was to be hailed for other reasons — viz., 
 Christ's kingly office would be better known, the truth 
 would be spread into desolate parishes, and faithful 
 ministers would be refined. And when, on ]March 
 7th of the following year, the cause of the Church 
 was finally to be pleaded at the bar of the House of 
 Commons, I find him writing — " Eventful night this 
 in the British Parliament ! Once more King Jesus 
 stands at an earthly tribunal, and they know him not !" 
 
 An interesting anecdote is related of him by a co- 
 presbyter, wh^ returned with him to Dundee after the 
 Convocation. This co-presbyter, Mr. Stewart, was 
 conversing with him as to what it might be their duty 
 to do in the event of the disruption, and where they 
 might be scattered. Mr. Stewart said he could preach 
 Gaelic, and might go to the Highlanders in Canada, 
 if it were needful. Mr. McCheyne said — " I think of 
 going to the many thousand convicts that are trans- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I77 
 
 ported beyond seas, for no man careth for their 
 souls.'^ 
 
 We have not many records of his public work after 
 this date. Almost the last note in his diary is dated 
 December 25. " This day ordained four elders, and 
 admitted a fifth, who will all, I trust, be a blessing in 
 this place when I am gone. Was graciously awakened 
 a great while before day, and had two hours alone 
 with God. Preached with much comfort on 1 Tim. 
 V. 17, "Let the elders that rule well," &c. At the 
 end of the sermon and prayer, proposed the regular 
 questions; then made the congregation sing standing; 
 during which time I came down from the pulpit and 
 stood over the four men, then prayed, and all the 
 elders gave the right hand of fellowship, during which 
 I returned to the pulpit, and addressed them and the 
 congregation on their relative duties. Altogether a 
 solemn scene." 
 
 The last recorded cases of awakening, and the last 
 entry in his diary, is dated January 6, 1843. "Heard 
 of an awakened soul finding rest — true rest, I trust. 
 Two new cases of awakening ; both very deep and 
 touching. At the very time when I was beginning 
 to give up in despair, God gives me tokens of his pre- 
 sence returning.^' 
 
 He here speaks of discouragement, when God for 
 a few months or weeks seemed to be withholding his 
 hand from saving souls. If he was not right in thus 
 hastily forgetting the past for a litde, still this feature 
 of his ministry is to be well considered. He enter- 
 tained so full a persuasion that a faithful minister has 
 every reason to expect to see souls converted under 
 him, that when this was withheld he began to fear 
 that some hidden evil was provoking the Lord and 
 grieving the Spirit. And ought it not to be so with 
 all of us? Ought we not to suspect, either that we 
 are not living near to God, or that our message is not 
 a true transcript of the glad tidings in both matter 
 and manner, when we see no souls brought to Jesus ? 
 God may certainly hide from our knowledge much of 
 what he accomplishes by our means, but as certainly 
 
ITS ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 will he bring to our view some seals of our ministry, 
 in order that our persuasion of being thus sent by him 
 may solemnize and overawe us, as well as lead us on 
 to unwearied labour. Ought it not to be the inscrip- 
 tion over the doors of our Assembly and college-halls: 
 — ''^Thanks he unto God,iohich always causeth us 
 to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the 
 savour of his knowledge by us in every place;''' 2 Co- 
 rinthians ii. 14. 
 
 About this time, in one of his IMSS., there occurs 
 this sentence — "As I was walking in the fields, the 
 thought came over me with almost overwhelming 
 power, that every one of my flock must soon be in 
 heaven or hell. how I wished that I had a tongue 
 like thunder, that I might make all hear ; or that I had 
 a frame like iron, that I might visit every one, and 
 say, ^Escape for thy life!' Ah, sinners! you little 
 know how I fear that you will lay the blame of your 
 damnation at my door.'' 
 
 He was never satisfied with his own attainments in 
 holiness; he was ever ready to learn, and quick to 
 apply, any suggestion that might tend to his greater 
 usefulness. About this period, he used to sing a 
 psalm or hymn every day after dinner. It was often, 
 " The Lord's my shepherd," &c.; or " may we stand 
 before the Lamb," &c. Sometimes it was that hymn, 
 "0 for a closer walk with God;" and sometimes the 
 psalm, "0 that I like a dove had wings," &c. A 
 friend said of him, " I have sometimes compared him 
 to the silver and graceful ash, with its pensile branches, 
 and leaves of gentle green, reflecting gleams of happy 
 sunshine. The fall of its leaf, too, is like the fall o'f 
 his — it is green to-night, and gone to-morrow — it does 
 not sere, nor wither." 
 
 An experienced servant of God has said, that, while 
 popularity is a snare that few are not caught by, a 
 more subtile and dangerous snare is to be famed for 
 holiness. The fame of being a godly man is as great 
 a snare as the fame of being learned or eloquent, ft 
 is possible to attend with scrupulous anxiety even to 
 secret habits of devotion, in order to get a name for 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. ' 1 79 
 
 holiness.^ If any were exposed to this snare in his 
 day, jNIr. iNIcCheyne was the person. Yet nothing is 
 more certain than that, to the very last, he was ever 
 discovering, and successfully resisting, the deceitful 
 tendencies of his own heart, and a tempting devil. 
 Two things he seems never to have ceased from — the 
 cultivation of personal holiness, and the most anxious 
 efforts to save souls. 
 
 About this time he wrote down, for his own use, an 
 examination into things that ought to be amended and 
 changed. I subjoin it entire. How singularly close 
 and impartial are these researches into his soul! How 
 acute is he in discovering his variations from the holy 
 law of God ! that we all were taught by the same 
 Spirit thus to try our reins! It is only when we are 
 thus thoroughly experiencing our helplessness, and 
 discovering the thousand forms of indwelling sin, that 
 we really sit as disciples at Christ's feet, and gladly 
 receive him as all in all! And at each such moment 
 we feel in the spirit of Ignatius, "Xi;v ya^ "■^xv'^ ^x^ "^^v 
 naOr^tsiiaQai.'^ — ''It is Only uow that I begin to be a 
 disciple.'^ 
 
 Mr. ^NlcCheyne entitles the examination of his heart 
 and life ''^ Reformation^^ and it commences thus — 
 
 " It is the duty of ministers in this day to begin the 
 reformation of religion and manners with themselves, 
 families, &c., with confession of past sin, earnest prayer 
 for direction, grace, and full purpose of heart. Mai. 
 iii. 3. ' He shall purify the sons of Levi.' Ministers 
 are probably laid aside for a time for this very pur- 
 pose. 
 
 a 
 
 I. PERSONAL REFORMATION. 
 
 '' I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest 
 amount of present happiness, I shall do most for God's 
 
 * How true, yet awful, is the language of Dr. Owen (quoted in 
 Bridges' Christian Ministry, p. 168,) "He that would go down to the 
 pit in peace, let him obtain a great repute for religion ; let him preach 
 and labour to make others better than he is himself, and, in the mean- 
 time, neglect to humble his heart, to walk with God in manifest holi- 
 ness and usefulness, and he will not fail of his end." 
 
ISO MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 glory and the good of man, and I shall have the fullest 
 reward hi eternity, by maintaining a conscience al- 
 ways washed in Christ^s blood, by being filled with 
 the Holy Spirit at all times, and by attaining the most 
 entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart, that 
 it is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this 
 world. 
 
 ^' I am persuaded that whenever any one from with- 
 out or my own heart from within, at any moment, or 
 in any circumstances, contradicts this — if any one shall 
 insinuate that it is not for my present and eternal 
 happiness, and for God's glory, and my usefulness, to 
 maintain a blood-washed conscience, to be entirely 
 filled with the Spirit, and to be fully conformed to the 
 image of Christ in all things — that is the voice of the 
 devil, God's enemy, the enemy of my soul, and of all 
 good — the most foolish, wicked, and miserable of all 
 the creatures. See Proverbs ix. 17. ^Stolen waters 
 are sweet.' 
 
 "1. To maintain a conscience void of offence,! am 
 persuaded that I ought to confess my sins more. I 
 think I ought to confess sin the moment I see it to be 
 sin; whether I am in company, or in study, or even 
 preaching, the soul ought to cast a glance of abhor- 
 rence at the sin. If I go on with the duty, leaving the 
 sin unconfessed, I go on with a burdened conscience, 
 and. add sin to sin. I think I ought at certain times 
 of the day — my best times — say, after breakfast and 
 after tea — to confess solemnly the sins of the previous 
 hours, and to seek their complete remission. 
 
 ^' I find that the devil often makes use of the con- 
 fession of sin to stir up again the very sin confessed 
 into new exercise, so that I am afraid to dwell upon 
 the confession. I must ask experienced Christians 
 about this. For the present, I think I should strive 
 against this awful abuse of confession, whereby the 
 devil seeks to frighten me away from confessing. I 
 ought to take all methods for seeing the vileness of my 
 sins. I ought to regard myself as a condemned branch 
 of Adam — as partaker of a nature opposite to God 
 from the womb, Psa. li. — as having a heart full of all 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 181 
 
 wickedness, which pollutes every thought, word, and 
 action, during my whole life, from birth to death. I 
 ought to confess often the sins of my youth, like 
 David and Paul — my sins before conversion, my sins 
 since conversion — sins against light and knowledge — 
 against love and grace — against each person of the 
 Godhead. I ought to look at my sins in the light of 
 the holy law — in the light of God's countenance — ■ 
 in the light of the Cross — in the light of the Judgment- 
 seat — in the light of hell — in the light of eternity. I 
 ought to examine my dreams — my floating thoughts 
 — my predilections — my often-recurring actions — my 
 habits of thought, feeling, speech, and action — the 
 slanders of my enemies — and the reproofs, and even 
 banterings of my friends — to find out traces of my 
 prevailing sin — matter for confession. I ought to have 
 a stated day of confession, with fasting — say, once 
 a-month. I ought to have a number of scriptures 
 marked, to bring sin to remembrance. I ought to 
 make use of all bodily aflliction, domestic trial, frowns 
 of Providence on myself, house, parish, church, or 
 country, as calls from God to confess sin. The sms 
 and afflictions of other men should call me to the 
 same. I ought, on Sabbath evenings, and on com- 
 munion Sabbath evenings, to be especially careful to 
 confess the sins of holy things. I ought to confess 
 the sins of my confessions — their imperfection, sin- 
 ful aims, self-righteous tendency, &c. — and to look to 
 Christ as having confessed my sins perfectly over his 
 own sacrifice. 
 
 "I ought to go to Christ for the forgiveness of each 
 sin. In washing my body, I go over every spot, and 
 wash it out : should I be less careful in washing 
 my soul ? I ought to see the stripe that was made 
 on the back of Jesus by each of my sins. I ought to 
 see the infinite pang thrill through the soul of Jesus 
 equal to an eternity of my hell for my sins, and for all 
 of them. 1 ought to see that in Christ's bloodshed- 
 ding there is an infinite overpayment for all my sins. 
 Although Christ did not suffer more than infinite 
 
 16 
 
1S2 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 justice demanded, yet he could not sufier at all with- 
 out laying down an infinite ransom. 
 
 "I feel, when I have sinned, an immediate reluc- 
 tance to go to Christ. I am ashamed to go. I feel 
 as if it would do no good to go — as if it were making 
 Christ a minister of sin, to go straight from the swine- 
 trough to the best robe — and a thousand other ex- 
 cuses; but I am persuaded they are all lies, direct 
 from hell. Jolm argues the opposite way — ' If any 
 man sin we have an advocate with the Father ;* Jere- 
 miah iii. l,and a thousand other scriptures are against 
 it. I am sure there is neither peace nor safety from 
 deeper sin, but in going directly to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ. This is God's way of peace and holiness. It 
 is folly to the world and the beclouded heart, but it is 
 the IV ay. 
 
 '^ I must never think a sin too small to need imme- 
 diate application to the blood of Christ. If I put away 
 a good conscience, concerning faith I make shipwreck. 
 I must never think my sins too great, too aggravated, 
 too presumptuous — as when done on my knees, or in 
 preaching, or by a dying bed, or during dangerous 
 illness — to hinder me from fleeing to Christ. The 
 weight of my sins should act like the weight of a 
 clock, the heavier it is, it makes it go the faster. 
 
 '* I must not only wash in Christ's blood, but clothe 
 me in Christ's obedience. For every sin of omission 
 in self, I may find a divinely perfect obedience ready 
 for me in Christ. For every sin of commission in 
 self, I may find not only a stripe or a wound in Christ, 
 but also a perfect rendering of the opposite obedience 
 in my place, so that the law is magnified — its curse 
 more than carried — its demand more than answered. 
 
 " Often the doctrine of Christ for me appears com- 
 mon, well known, having nothing new in it; and I am 
 tempted to pass it by, and go to some scripture more 
 taking. This is the devil again — a red hot lie. Christ 
 for us is ever new, ever glorious. ' Unsearchable 
 riches of Christ' — an infinite object, and the only one 
 for a guilty soul. I ought to have a number of 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. lS3 
 
 scriptures ready, which lead my bUnd soul directly to 
 Christ, such as Isaiah xlv., Romans iii. 
 
 " 2. To he filled ivith the Holy Spirit, I am per- 
 suaded that I ought to study more my own weakness. 
 I ought to have a number of scriptures ready to be 
 meditated on, such as Romans vii., John xv., to con- 
 vince me that I am a helpless worm. 
 
 " I am tempted to tliinkthat I am now an establish- 
 ed Christian — that I have overcome this or that lust 
 so long — that I have got into the habit of the opposite 
 grace — so that there is no fear; I may venture very 
 near the temptation — nearer than other men. This 
 is a lie of Satan. I might as well speak of gun- 
 powder getting by habit a power of resisting fire, so as 
 not to catch the spark. As long as powder is Wet it 
 resists the spark ; but when it becomes dry, it is ready 
 to explode at the first touch. As long as the Spirit 
 dwells in my heart he deadens me to sin, so that, if 
 lawfully called through temptation, I may reckon 
 upon God carrying me through. But where the Spirit 
 leaves me I am like dry gunpowder. for a sense 
 of this ! 
 
 " I am tempted to think that there are some sins for 
 which I have no natural taste, such as strong drink, 
 profane language, &c., so that I need not fear tempta- 
 tion to such sins. This is a lie — a proud, presumptu- 
 ous lie. The seeds of all sins are in my heart, and 
 perhaps all the more dangerously that I do not see 
 them. 
 
 '' I ought to pray and labour for the deepest sense 
 of my utter weakness and helplessness that ever a 
 sinner was brought to feel. I am helpless in respect 
 of every lust that ever was, or will be, in the human 
 heart. I am a worm — a beast — before God. I often 
 tremble to think that this is true. I feel as if it would 
 not be safe for me to renounce all indwelling strength, 
 as if it would be dangerous for me to feel (what is the 
 truth) that there is nothing in me keeping me back 
 from the grossest and vilest sin. This is a delusion of 
 the devil. My only safety is to know, feel, and con- 
 fess my helplessness, that I may hang upon the arm 
 
1S4 ME3I0IR OF THE 
 
 of OmnipoteDce I daily wish that sin had 
 
 been rooted out of my heart. I say, ^ Why did God 
 leave the roots of lasciviousness, pride, anger, &c., in 
 my bosom? He hates sin, and I hate it ; why did he 
 not take it clean away?' I know many answers to 
 this which completely satisfy my judgment ; but still 
 I do not feel satisfied. This is wrong. It is right to 
 be weary of the being of sin, but not right to quarrel 
 with my present ^ good fight of faith.' .... The 
 falls of professors into sin make me tremble. I have 
 been driven away from prayer, and burdened in a 
 fearful manner by hearing or seeing their sin. This 
 is wrong. It is right to tremble and to make every 
 sin of every professor a lesson of my own helplessness, 
 
 but it should lead me the more to Christ If 
 
 I were more deeply convinced of my utter helpless- 
 ness, I think I would not be so alarmed when I hear 
 
 of the falls of other men I should study 
 
 those sins in which I am most helpless, in which pas- 
 sion becomes like a whirlwind, and I like a straw. 
 No figure of speech can represent my utter w^ant of 
 
 power to resist the torrent of sin I ought 
 
 to study Christ's omnipotence more; Heb. vii. 25; 
 1 Thess. V. 23; Rom. vi. 14; Rom. v. 9, 10; and such 
 
 scriptures should be ever before me Paul's 
 
 thorn, 2 Cor. xii., is the experience of the greater part 
 
 of my life. It should be ever before me 
 
 There are many subsidiary methods of seeking de- 
 liverance from sins, which must not be neglected — 
 thus, marriage, 1 Cor. vii. 2, fleeing, 1 Tim. vi. 11, 
 1 Cor. vi. 18, watch and pray, Matt. xxvi. 41; the 
 word, *It is written, It is written.' So Christ defended 
 
 himself; Matt, iv But the main defence is 
 
 casting myself into the arms of Christ like a helpless 
 child, and beseeching him to fill me with the Holy 
 Spirit; ' This is the victory that overcometh the world, 
 even our faith,' 1 John v. 4, 5 — a wonderful passage, 
 "I ought to study Christ as a living Saviour more — 
 as a Shepherd carrying the sheep he finds — as a King 
 reigning in and over the souls he has redeemed — as a 
 Captain fighting with those who fight with me, Psal. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 185 
 
 XXXV. — as one who has engaged to bring me through 
 all temptations and trials, however impossible to flesh 
 and blood. 
 
 "I am often tempted to say, How can this man save 
 us ? How can Christ in heaven deliver me from lusts 
 which I feel raging in me, and nets I feel enclosing 
 me ? This is the father of lies again ! " He is able to 
 save unto the uttermost.' 
 
 " I ought to study Christ as an Intercessor. He 
 prayed most for Peter who was to be most tempted. I 
 am on his breastplate. If I could hear Christ praying 
 for me in the next room, I would not fear a million of 
 enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference: he is 
 praying for us. 
 
 " I ought to study the Comforter more — his God- 
 head, his love, his almightiness. I have found by ex- 
 perience that nothing sanctities me so much as medi- 
 tatmg on the Comforter, as John xiv. 16. And yet 
 how seldom I do this. Satan keeps me from it. I 
 am often like those men who said, They knew not if 
 
 there be any Holy Ghost I ought 
 
 never to forget that my body is dwelt in by the Third 
 Person of the Godhead. The very thought of this 
 
 should make me tremble to sin; iCor. vi 
 
 I ought never to forget that sin grieves the Holy 
 
 Spirit — vexes and quenches him If 
 
 I would be filled with the Spirit, I feel I must read the 
 Bible more, pray more, and watch more. 
 
 "3. To gain entire likeness to Christ, I ought to 
 get a high esteem of the happiness of it. I am per- 
 suaded that God's happiness is inseparably linked in 
 with his holiness. Holiness and happiness are like 
 light and heat. God never tasted one of the pleasures 
 ot" sin. 
 
 " Christ had a body such as I have, yet he never 
 tasted one of the pleasures of sin. The redeemed, 
 through all eternity, will never taste one of the plea- 
 sures of sin; yet their happiness is complete. It would 
 be my greatest happiness to be from this moment 
 entirely like them. Every sin is something away 
 
 from my greatest enjoyment The devil 
 
 16* 
 
186 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 strives night and day to make me forget this, or dis- 
 beUeve it. He says, Why should you not enjoy this 
 pleasure as much as Solomon or David ? You may 
 go to heaven also. I am persuaded that this is a lie — 
 that my true happiness is to go and sin no more. 
 
 " I ought not to delay parting with sins. Now is 
 God's time. ' I made haste and delayed not.' . . . 
 I ought not to spare sins, because I have long allowed 
 them as infirmities; and others would think it odd if 
 I were to change all at once. What a wretched de- 
 lusion of Satan that is ! 
 
 " Wliatever I see to be sin, I ought from this hour 
 to set my whole soul against it, using all scriptural 
 methods to mortify it — as, the Scriptures, special 
 prayer for the Spirit, fasting, watching. 
 
 " I ought to mark strictly the occasions when I 
 have fallen, and avoid the occasion as much as the sin 
 itself 
 
 " Satan often tempts me to go as near to tempta- 
 tions as possible, without committing the sin. This is 
 fearful — tempting God and grieving the Holy Ghost. 
 It is a deep-laid plot of Satan. 
 
 " I ought to flee all temptation, according to Prov. 
 iv. 15 — 'Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and 
 pass away.' .... 1 ought constantly to pour 
 out my heart to God, praying for entire conformity 
 to Christ — for the whole law to be written on my 
 
 heart I ought statedly and solemnly to 
 
 give my heart to God — to surrender my all into his 
 everlasting arms, according to the prayer — Ps. xxxi., 
 * Into thine hand I commit my spirit' — beseeching 
 him not to let any iniquity, secret or presumptuous, 
 have dominion over me, and to fill me with every 
 grace that is in Christ in the highest degree that it is 
 possible for a redeemed sinner to receive it, and at all 
 times, till death. 
 
 *' I ought to meditate often on heaven as a world of 
 holiness — where all are holy, where the joy is holy 
 joy, the work holy work; so that without personal 
 
 holiness, I never can be there I ought 
 
 to avoid the appearance of evil. God commands me; 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 187 
 
 and I find that Satan has a singular art in Unking 
 the appearance and reaUty together. 
 
 " I find that speaking of some sins defiles my mind 
 and leads me into temptation; and I find that God 
 forbids even saints to speak of the things that are 
 done in secret. 1 ought to avoid this. 
 
 "Eve, Achan, David, all fell through the lust of the 
 eye. I should make a covenant with mine, and pray, 
 ' Turn away mine eyes from viewing vanity.' .... 
 Satan makes unconverted men like the deaf adder to 
 the sound of the gospel. I should pray to be made 
 deaf by the Holy Spirit to all that would tempt me 
 to sin. 
 
 " One of my most frequent occasions of being led 
 into temptation is this — I say it is needful to my 
 office that I listen to this, or look into this, or speak 
 of this. So far this is true; yet I am sure Satan has 
 his part in this argument. I should seek divine direc- 
 tion to settle how far it will be good for my ministry, 
 and how far evil for my soul, that I may avoid the 
 latter. 
 
 " I am persuaded that nothing is thriving in my 
 soul unless it is growing. ^Grow in grace.' * Lord, 
 increase our faith. 'Forgetting the things that are 
 
 behind.' I am persuaded that I ought to 
 
 be inquiring at God and man what grace I want and 
 
 how I may become more like Christ I 
 
 ought to strive for more purity, humility meekness, 
 patience under sufi*ering, love. ' Make me Christ- 
 like in all things,' should be my constant prayer, ' Fill 
 me with the Holy Spirit.' 
 
 "ll. REFORMATION IN SECRET PRAYER. 
 
 *' I ought not to omit any of the parts of prayer — 
 confession, adoration, thanksgiving, petition, and in- 
 tercession. 
 
 " There is a fearful tendency to omit confession, 
 proceeding from low views of God and his law — shght 
 views of my heart and the sins of my past life. Th'' 
 must be resisted. There is a constant tendency 
 
188 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 omit adoration^ when I forget to whom I am speak- 
 ing — when I rush heedlessly into the presence of Je- 
 hovah, without remembering his awful name and 
 character — when I have little eyesight for his glory, 
 and little admiration of his wonders. ' Where are the 
 wise V Siiow me the native tendency of the heart to 
 omit giving thanks. And yet it is specially com- 
 manded, Phil. iv. 6. Often when the heart is selfish 
 — dead to the salvation of others — I omit intercession. 
 And yet it especially is the spirit of the Great Advo- 
 cate, who has the name of Israel always on his heart. 
 
 " Perhaps every prayer need not have all these; 
 but surely a day should not pass without some space 
 being devoted to each. 
 
 '-' I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when 
 I sleep long, or meet with others early, and then have 
 family prayer, and breakfast, and forenoon callers, 
 often it is eleven or twelve o'clock before I begin 
 secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is un- 
 scriptural. Christ rose before day, and went into a 
 solitary place. David says, 'Early will I seek thee; 
 thou shalt early hear my voice.' JNIary Magdalene 
 came to the sepulchre while it was yet dark. Family 
 prayer loses much of its power and sweetness; and I 
 can do no good to those who come to seek from me. 
 The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp 
 not trimmed. Then, when secret prayer comes, the 
 soul is often out of tune. I feel it is far better to be- 
 gin with God — to see his face first — to get my soul 
 near him before it is near another. ' When I awake 
 I am still with thee.' 
 
 *' If I have slept too long, or am going an early 
 journey, or my time is any way shortened, it is best 
 to dress lun-riedly, and have a few minutes alone with 
 God, than to give it up for lost. 
 
 "But, in general, it is best to have at least one 
 hour alone ivith God, before engaging in any thing 
 else. At the same time, I must be careful not to 
 reckon communion with God by minutes or hours, 
 or by solitude. I have pored over my Bible, and on 
 my knees for hours, with Uttle or no communion: and 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 189 
 
 my times of solitude have been often times of greatest 
 temptation. 
 
 "As to intercession^ I ought daily to intercede for 
 my own family, connections, relativ^es, and friends ; 
 also for my flock — the believers, the awakened, the 
 careless ; the sick, the bereaved ; the poor, the rich ; 
 my elders, Sabbath-school teachers, day-school teach- 
 ers, children, tract distributors — that all means may 
 be blessed — Sabbath-day preaching and teaching; 
 visiting of the sick, visiting from house to house ; 
 providences, sacraments. I ought daily to intercede 
 briefly for the whole town, the Church of Scotland, 
 all faithful ministers; for vacant congregations, stu- 
 dents of divinity, &c. ; for dear brethren by name ; 
 for missionaries to Jews and Gentiles ; and for this 
 end I must read missionary intelligence regularly, 
 and get acquainted with all that is doing throughout 
 the world. It would stir me up to pray with the 
 map before me. I must have a scheme of prayer, 
 also the names of missionaries marked on the map. 
 I ought to intercede at large for the above on Satur- 
 day morning and evening from seven to eight. Per- 
 haps also I might take ditferent parts for different 
 days; only I ought daily to plead for my family and 
 flock. I ought to pray in every thing. ' Be careful 
 for nothing, but in every thing,^ &c. Often I receive a 
 letter asking to preach, or some such request. I find 
 myself answering before having asked counsel of God. 
 Still oftener a person calls and asks me something, 
 and I do not ask direction. Often I go out to visit a 
 sick person in a hurry, without asking his blessing, 
 which alone can make the visit of any use. I am 
 persuaded that I ought never to do any thing without 
 prayer, and, if possihle, special, secret prayer. 
 
 " In reading the history of the Church of Scotland, 
 I see how much her troubles and trials have been 
 connected with the salvation of souls and the glory of 
 Christ. I ought to pray far more for our church, for 
 our leading ministers by name, and for my own clear 
 guidance in the right way, that I may not be led 
 aside, or driven aside, from following Christ. Many 
 
190 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 difficult questions may be forced on us for which 
 I am not fully prepared, such as the lawfulness of 
 covenants. I should pray much more in peaceful 
 days, that I may be guided rightly when days of trial 
 come. 
 
 ^' I ought to spend the best hours of the day in com- 
 munion with God. It is my noblest and most fruitful 
 employment, and is not to be thrust into any corner. 
 The morning hours, from six to eight, are the most 
 uninterrupted, and should be thus employed, if I can 
 prevent drowsiness. A little time after breakfast 
 might be given to intercession. After tea is my best 
 hour, and that should be solemnly dedicated to God, if 
 possible. 
 
 " I ought not to give up the good old habit of prayer 
 before going to bed ; but guard must be kept against 
 sleep ; planning what things I am to ask is the best 
 remedy. When I awake in the night, I ought to rise 
 and pray, as David and as John Welsh did. 
 
 " I ought to read three chapters of the Bible in se- 
 cret every day, at least. 
 
 " I ought on Sabbath morning to look over all the 
 chapters read through the w^eek, and especially the 
 verses marked. I ought to read in three different 
 places ; I ought also to read according to subjects, 
 times/' &:c. 
 
 He has evidently left this unfinished, and now he 
 knows even as he is known. 
 
 Toward the end of his ministry, he became pecu- 
 liarly jealous of becoming an idol to his people ; for he 
 was loved and revered by many who gave no evi- 
 dence of love to Christ. This often pained him much. 
 It is indeed right in a people to regard their pastor 
 Avith no common love, 2 Cor. ix. 14, but there is ever 
 a danger ready to arise. He used to say, " Ministers 
 are but the pole ; it is to the brazen serpent you are 
 to look." 
 
 The state of his health would not permit him to be 
 laborious in going from house to house, whereas 
 preaching and evangelistic work in general was less 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 191 * 
 
 exhausting ; but of course, while he was thus en- 
 gaged, many concerns of the parish would be unat- 
 tended to ; accordingly his Session offered him a stated 
 assistant to help him in his parochial duty. With 
 this proposal ho at once concurred. Mr. Gatherer, 
 then at Caraldstone, was cliosen, and continued to la- 
 bour faithfully witii him during the remaining days 
 of his ministry. 
 
 In the beginning of the year he pubhshed his ^^ Daily 
 Bread,^^ an arrangement of Scripture, that the Bible 
 might be read through in the course of a year. He 
 sought to induce his people to meditate much on the 
 written word in all its breadth. His last publication 
 was, ^^Another Lily Gathered,^^ or the account of 
 James Laing, a little ho^ in his flock, brought to Christ 
 early, and carried soon to glory. 
 
 In the middle of January 1843, he visited Collace, 
 and preached on 1 Cor. ix. 27, "A Castaway^' — a 
 sermon so solemn that one said it was like a blast of 
 the trumpet that would awaken the dead. Next day 
 he rode on to Lintrathen, where the people were will- 
 ing to give up their work at mid-day, if he woukl come 
 and preach to them. All this month he was breathing 
 after glory. In his letters there are such expressions 
 as these: " I often pray. Lord, make me as holy as a 
 pardoned sinner can be made.'' "Often, often I would 
 like to depart and be with Christ — to mount to Pisgah- 
 top and take a farewell look of the Church below, and 
 leave my body and be present with the Lord. Ah, it 
 is far better V Again : "I do not expect to live long. 
 I expect a sudden call some day — perhaps soon — and 
 therefore I speak very plainly." But, indeed, he had 
 long been persuaded that his course would be brief. 
 His hearers remember well how often he would speak 
 in such language as that with which he one day closed 
 his sermon. " Changes are coming ; every eye before 
 me shall soon be dim in death. Another pastor shall 
 feed thisfiock; another singer lead the psalm; another 
 flock shall fill this fold." 
 
 In the beginning of February, by appointment of 
 the committee of the convocation, he accompanied 
 
1 92 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 Mr. Alexander, of Kirkaldy, to visit the districts of 
 Deer and Ellon — districts over which he yearned, for 
 Moderatism had held undisputed sway over them for 
 generations. It was to be his last evangelistic tour. 
 He exemplified his own remark, "The oil of the 
 lamp in the temple burnt away in giving light; so 
 should we." 
 
 He set out, says one that saw him leave town, as 
 unclouded and happy as the sky that was above his 
 head that bright morning. During the space of 
 three weeks, he preached or spoke at meetings in 
 four-and-twenty places, sometimes more than once in 
 the same place. Great impression was made upon 
 the people of the district. One who tracked his foot- 
 steps a month after his death states, that sympathy 
 with the principles of our suffering church was 
 awakened in many places ; but, above all, a thirst 
 was excited for the pure word of life. His eminently 
 holy walk and conversation, combined with the deep 
 solemnity of his preaching, was specially felt. The 
 people loved to speak of him. In one place, where 
 a meeting had been intimated, the people assembled, 
 resolving to cast stones at him as soon as he should 
 begin to speak ; but no sooner had he begun, than 
 his manner, his look, his words, riveted them all, 
 and they listened with intense earnestness ; and be- 
 fore he left the place, the people gathered round him, 
 entreating him to stay and preach to them. One 
 man, who had cast mud at him, was afterwards 
 moved to tears on hearing of his death. 
 
 He wrote to Mr. Gatherer, Fehruay^y 14th, "I had 
 a nice opportunity of preaching in Aberdeen ; and in 
 Peterhead our meeting was truly successful. The 
 minister of St. Fergus I found to be what you de- 
 scribed. We had a solemn meeting in his church. 
 In Strichen, we had a meeting in the Independent 
 meeting-Iiouse. On Friday evening, we had two 
 delightful meetings, in a mill at Crechie, and in the 
 church of Clola. The people were evidently much 
 impressed, some weeping. On Saturday evening, we 
 met in the Brucklay barn. I preached on Sabbath, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. I93 
 
 at New Deer in the morning, and at Fraserburgh in 
 the evening — both interesting meetings. To-night, 
 we meet in Pitsligo chnrch. To-morrow, we trust to 
 be in Aberdour : and tlien we leave for the Presby- 
 tery of Ellon. The weather has been delightful tilJ 
 now. To-day, the snow is beginning to drift. But 
 God is with us, and he will carry us to the very end. 
 I am quite well, though a little fatigued sometimes.'^ 
 On the 24th, he writes to another friend, " To-day is 
 the first we have rested since leaving home, so that 
 I am almost overcome with fatigue. Do not be idle ; 
 improve in all useful knowledge. You know what 
 an enemy I am to idleness." 
 
 Never was it more felt that God was with him than 
 in this journey. The Lord seemed to show in him 
 the meaning of the text, '' Out of his belly shall flow 
 rivers of living water." John vii. 38. Even when 
 silent, the near intercoiu'se he held with God left its 
 impression on those around. His constant holiness 
 touched the consciences of many. 
 
 Returning to his beloved flock on March 1st, in 
 good health, but much exhausted, he related next 
 evening at his prayer-meeting, what things he had 
 seen and heard. During the next twelve days, he 
 was to be found going out and in among his people, 
 filling up, as his manner was, every inch of time. 
 But he had been much weakened by his unceasing 
 exertions when in the north, and so was more than 
 ordinarily exposed to the typhus fevep that Avas then 
 prevailing in his parish, several cases of which he 
 visited in his enfeebled state. 
 
 On Sabbath the 5th, he preached three times; and 
 two days after, I find him writing to his father : "All 
 domestic matters go on like a placid stream — I trust 
 not without its fertilizing influence. Nothing is more 
 improving than the domestic altar, when we come to 
 it for a daily supply of soul nourishment." To the 
 last we get glances into his soul's growth. His family 
 devotions were full of life and full of gladness to the 
 end. Indeed, his very manner of reading the chapter 
 reminded you of a man poring into the sand for 
 
 17 
 
194 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 pieces of fine gold, and from time to time holding up 
 to you what he was deUghted to liave found. 
 
 On Sabbath the 12th, he preached upon Heb. ix. 15, 
 in the forenoon, and Rom, ix. 22, 23, in the afternoon, 
 with uncommon solemnity; and it was observed, both 
 then and on other la.te occasions, he spoke with pecu- 
 Har strength upon the sovereignty of God. These 
 were his last discourses to his people in St. Peter's. 
 That same evening, he went down to Broughty 
 Ferry, and preached upon Isaiah Ix. 1, "Arise, shine," 
 &c. It was the last time he was to be en2:a2;ed 
 directly in proclaiming Christ to sinners; and as he 
 began his ministry with souls for his hire, so it ap- 
 pears that his last discourse had in it saving power to 
 some, and that, rather from the holiness it breathed 
 than from the wisdom of its words. After his death, 
 a note was found unopened, which had been sent to 
 him in the course of the following week when he lay 
 in the fever. It ran thus: " I hope you will pardon a 
 stranger for addressing to you a few lines. I heard 
 you preach last Sabbath evening, and it pleased God 
 to bless that sermon to my soul. It was not so much 
 what you said, as your manner of speaking, that 
 struck me. I saw in you a beauty in holiness that I 
 never saw before. You also said something in your 
 prayer that struck me very much. It was, " T/iou 
 knowest that ive love thee.'' sir, what would I give 
 that I could say to my blessed Saviour, 'Thou know- 
 est that I love thee.'' 
 
 Next evening he held a meeting in St. Peter's with 
 the view of organizing his people for collecting in 
 behalf of the Free Protesting Church — the disruption 
 of the Establishment being now inevitable. He spoke 
 very fervently; and after the meeting felt chilled and 
 unweU. Next morning he felt that he was ill ; but 
 went out in the afternoon to the marriage of two of 
 his flock. He seemed, however, to anticipate a serious 
 attack, for, on his way home, he made some arrange- 
 ments connected with his ministerial work, and left a 
 message at Dr. Gibson's house, asking him to come 
 and see him. He believed that he had taken the fever, 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. I95 
 
 and it was so. That night he lay down upon the bed 
 from which he was never to rise. He spoke little ; 
 but intimated that he apprehended danger. 
 
 On Wednesday, he said he thought that he would 
 never have seen the morning, he felt so sore broken, 
 and had got no sleep ; but afterwards added, " Shall 
 we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall 
 we not receive evil also?" He seemed clouded in 
 spirit, often repeating such passages as — " INIy mois- 
 ture is turned into the drought of summer ;" " My 
 bones wax old, through my roaring all day long." It 
 was with ditRculty that he was able to speak a few 
 words with his assistant, Mr. Gatherer. In the fore- 
 noon Mr. Miller of Wallacetown found him oppressed 
 with extreme pain in his head. Amongst other things 
 they conversed upon Psalm cxxvi. On coming to the 
 6th verse, Mr. McCheyne said he would give him a 
 division of it. 1. What is sowed — ^' Precious seed." 
 2. The manner of sowing it — " Goeth forth and 
 weepeth." He dwelt upon ^'iveepeth,'^ and then said, 
 "Ministers should go forth at all times." 3. The 
 fruit — '^ Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing." 
 Mr. Miller pointed to the certainty of it ; Mr. 
 McCheyne assented, "Yes — doubtless.'^ After pray- 
 ing with him, Mr. Miller repeated Matthew xi. 28, 
 upon which JMr. McCheyne clasped his hands with 
 great earnestness. As he became worse, his medical 
 attendants forbade him to be visited. Once or twice 
 he asked for me, and was heard to speak of " Smyr- 
 na,^^ as if the associations of his illness there were 
 recalled by his burning fever now. I was not at that 
 time aware of his danger ; even the rumour of it had 
 not reached us. 
 
 Next day, he continued sunk in body and mind, 
 till about the time wiien his people met for their usual 
 evening prayer-meeting, when he requested to be left 
 alone for half an hour. When his servant entered the 
 room again, he exclaimed with a joyful voice, " My 
 soul is escaped, as a bird out of the snare of the 
 fowler ; the snare is broken, and I am escaped." 
 His countenance, as he said this, bespoke inward 
 
196 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 peace. Ever after, he was observed to be happy; 
 and at siipper-time that evening, Avhen taking a little 
 refreshment, he gave thanks, " For strength in the 
 time of weakness — for light in the time of darkness — 
 for joy in the time of sorrow — for comforting us in 
 all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort 
 those that are in any trouble, by the comfort where- 
 with we ourselves are comforted of God." 
 
 On Sabbath, when his servant expressed a wish 
 that he had been able to go forth as usual to preach, 
 he replied, " My thoughts are not your thoughts, 
 neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord;" 
 and added, " I am preachuig the sermon that God 
 would have me to do." 
 
 On Tuesday (the 21st) his sister read to him se- 
 veral hymns. The last words he heard, and the last 
 he seemed to understand, were those of Cowper's 
 hymn, " Sometimes a light surprises the Christian as 
 he sings." And then the delirium came on. 
 
 At one time, during the delirium, he said to his 
 attendant, " Mind the text, 1 Corinth, xv. 58. Be 
 steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work 
 of the Lord;" dwelling with much emphasis on the 
 last clause, '-^forasmuch as ye knoiv that your la- 
 hour is not in vain in the Lord.^^ At another time, 
 he seemed to feel himself among his brethren, and 
 said, " I don't think much of policy in church courts ; 
 no, I hate it; but I'll tell you what I like, faithfulness 
 to God, and a holy walk." His voice, which had 
 been weak before, became very strong now : and often 
 was he heard speaking to or pra^'ing for his people. 
 " You must be awakened in time, or you will be 
 awakened in everlasting torment, to your eternal con- 
 fusion !" "You may soon get me away, but that 
 will not save your souls !" Then he prayed, " This 
 parish, Lord, this people, this wliole place !" At 
 another time, " Do it thyself. Lord, for thy weak 
 servant !" And again, as if praying for the saints, 
 " Holy Father, keep through thine own name those 
 whom thou hast given me !" 
 
 Thus he continued, most generally engaged while 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 197 
 
 the delirium lasted, either in prayer or in preaching 
 to his people, and always apparently in happy frame, 
 till the morning of Saturday the 25th. On that morn- 
 ing, while his kind medical attendant. Dr. Gibson, 
 stood by, he lifted up his hands, as if in the attitude 
 of pronouncing the blessing, and then sank down. 
 Not a groan or a sigh, but only a quiver of the lip, 
 and his soul was at rest. 
 
 As he was subject to frequent sickness, it was not 
 till within some days of his death that serious alarm 
 was generally felt, and hence the stroke came with 
 awful suddenness upon us all. That same afternoon, 
 while preparing for Sabbath duties, the tidings reach- 
 ed me. I hastened down, though scarce knowing 
 why I went. His people were that evening met to- 
 gether in the church, and such a scene of sorrow has 
 not often been witnessed in Scotland. It was like 
 the weeping for King Josiah. Hundreds were there; 
 the lower part of the church was full: and none 
 among them seemed able to contain their sorrow. 
 Every heart seemed bursting with grief, so that the 
 Aveeping and the cries could be heard afar off. The 
 Lord had most severely wounded the people whom 
 he had before so peculiarly favoured; and now, by this 
 awful stroke of his hand, was fixing deeper in their 
 souls all that his servant had spoken in the days of 
 his personal ministry. 
 
 Wherever the news of his departure came, every 
 Christian countenance was darkened with sadness. 
 Perhaps, never was the death of one, whose whole 
 occupation had been preaching the everlasting gospel, 
 more felt by all the samts of God in Scotland. Not 
 a few also of our Presbyterian brethren in Ireland felt 
 the blow to the very heart. He used himself to say, 
 " Live so as to be missed ;" and none that saw the 
 tears that were shed over his death would have 
 doubted that his own life had been what he recom- 
 mended to others. He had not completed more than 
 twenty-nine years when God took hnn. 
 
 On the day of his burial, business was quite sus- 
 pended in the parish. The streets, and every window, 
 
 17^ 
 
19S MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 from the house to the grave, were crowded with 
 those who felt that a Prince in Israel had fallen; and 
 many a careless man felt a secret awe creep over his 
 hardened soul as he cast his eye on the solemn 
 spectacle. 
 
 His tomb may be seen on the pathway at the north- 
 west corner of St. Peter's burying-ground. He has 
 gone to the " momitain of myrrh and the hill of frank- 
 incense, till the day break and the shadows flee away." 
 His work was finished ! His heavenly Father had 
 not another plant for him to water, nor another vine 
 for him to train; and the Saviour who so loved him 
 was waiting to greet him with his own welcome — 
 " Well done, good and fahhful servant, enter thou 
 into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 But what is the voice to us? Has this been sent 
 as the stroke of wrath, or the rebuke of love? " His 
 way is in the sea, and liis path in the great waters, 
 and his footsteps are not known." Only this much 
 we can clearly see, that nothing was more fitted to 
 leave his character and example impressed on our 
 remembrance for ever than his early death. There 
 might be envy while he lived; there is none now. 
 There might have been some of the youthful attrac- 
 tiveness of his graces lost had he lived many years; 
 this cannot be impaired now. It seems as if the 
 Lord had struck the flower from its stem, ere any of 
 the colours had lost their bright hue, or any leaf its 
 fragrance. 
 
 Well may the flock of St. Peter's lay it to heart. 
 They have had days of visitation. Ye have seen the 
 right hand of the Lord plucked out of his bosom ! 
 What shall the unsaved among you do in the day of 
 the Lord's anger ? " If thou hadst known, even thou, 
 at least in this thy day, the things which belong to 
 thy peace !" 
 
 It has been more than once the lot of Scotland (as 
 Avas said in the days of Durham,) to enjoy so much 
 of the Lord's kindness, as to have men to lose whose 
 loss has been felt to the very heart — witnesses for 
 Christ, who saw the King's face and testified of his 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. I99 
 
 beauty. We cannot weep them back ; but shall we 
 not call upon Him with whom is the residue of the 
 Spirit, that ere the Lord come, he would raise up 
 men, like Enoch or like Paul, who shall reach nearer 
 the stature of the perfect man, and bear witness with 
 more power to all nations? Are there not (as he who 
 has left us used to hope) "better ministers in store for 
 Scotland than any that have yet arisen?" 
 
 JNIinisters of Christ, does not the Lord call upon us 
 especially? Many of us are like the angel of the 
 Church of Ephesus : we have " works, and labour, 
 and patience, and cannot bear them that are evil, and 
 we have borne, and for his name's sake we labour, 
 and have not fainted;" but we want the fervour of 
 '' first love." how seldom now do we hear of 
 fresh supplies of holiness arriving from the heavenly 
 places (Eph. i. 3) — new grace appearing among the 
 saints, and in living ministers! We get contented 
 with our old measure and kind, as if the windows of 
 heaven were never to be opened. Few among us 
 see the lower depths of the horrible pit ; few ever 
 enter the inner chambers of the house of David. 
 
 But there has been one among us who, ere he had 
 reached the age at which a priest in Israel would 
 have been entering on his course, dwelt at the mercy- 
 seat as if it were his home — preached the certainties 
 of eternal life with an undoubting mind — and spent 
 his nights and days in ceaseless breathings after holi- 
 ness, and the salvation of sinners. Hundreds of souls 
 were. his reward from the Lord, ere he left us; and 
 in him have we been taught how nuich one man may 
 do who will only press further into the presence of 
 his God, and handle more skilfully the unsearchable 
 riches of Christ, and speak more boldly for his God. 
 We speak much against unfaithful ministers, while 
 we ourselves are awfully unfaithful! Are we never 
 afraid that the cries of souls whom we liave betrayed 
 to perdition through our want of personal holiness, 
 and our defective preaching of Christ crucified, may 
 ring in our ears for ever? Our Lord is at the door. 
 In the twinkling of an eye our work will be done. 
 
200 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 "Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, awake as in 
 the ancient days," till every one of thy pastors be 
 wilhng to impart to the flock, over which the Holy 
 Ghost has made him overseer, not the gospel of God 
 only, but also his own soul. And that each one 
 were able, as he stands in the pastures feeding thy 
 sheep and lambs, to look up and appeal to thee — 
 '''• LorcU thou knowest all things! thou knoivest that 
 I love thee!'' 
 
 CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 
 
 It is perhaps right, at the close of this memoir, to 
 preserve a specimen of the many tributes to his me- 
 mory which appeared at the time of his decease. 
 One of these, written in his own town, after a brief 
 review of his life, concluded thus: — 
 
 ^^ Whether viewed as a son, a brother, a friend, or 
 a pastor, often has the remark been made, by those 
 who knew him most intimately, that he was the most 
 faultless and attractive exhibition of the true Chris- 
 tian which they had ever seen embodied in a living 
 form. His great study was to be Christ-like. He 
 was a man of remarkable sins^leness of heart. He 
 lived but for one object — the glory of the Redeemer 
 in connexion with the salvation of immortal souls. 
 Hence he carried with him a kind of hallowing influ- 
 ence into every company into which he entered, and 
 his brethren were accustomed to feel as if all were 
 well when their measures met with the sanction and 
 approval of Mr. McCheyne. He was, indeed, the 
 object of an esteem and reverence altogether singular 
 toward so young a man, and which had their founda- 
 tion in the deep and universal conviction of his per- 
 fect integrity of purpose — his unbending sincerity and 
 truthfulness — his Christian generosity of spirit — and 
 in the persuasion that he was a man who lived near 
 to God, as was evident from his holy walk, his spi- 
 ritual and heavenly-minded frame, and his singularly 
 amiable and atfectionate temper and disposition. In 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYXE. 201 
 
 his zeal in the cause in which the Church is engaged he 
 was most exemplary. His spiritual mind had a quick 
 and strong perception of the connexion of the great 
 principles for which she is contending, with the interests 
 of vital godliness in the land. His views concerning 
 the issues of the controversy, as regards the fate of the 
 EstabUshment, and the guilt and consequent danger of 
 the country, were remarkably dark; but, as respects 
 the imperishable interests of the Gospel, he rejoiced 
 in the assurance, ^We have a strong city; salvation 
 will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.' The exam- 
 ple of his zeal and growing devotion in this cause has 
 been bequeathed by him as a precious legacy to his at- 
 tached and weeping flock. His death has spread a gen- 
 eral gloom among the friends of religion throughout 
 this town, and bitter are the tears that have been wrung 
 from many eyes all unused to weep. Every one feels 
 as if bereaved of a personal friend, and is at a loss for 
 language to convey his sense of the loss which himself 
 and the cause of truth have sustained — ^sorrowing 
 most of all that they shall see his face no more.' 'There 
 is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel.' 
 INIay the Lord increase the measures of his grace and 
 strength to his surviving servants, who are called to 
 occupy the breach thas left in the walls of our Zion ! 
 'Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth ; for the faith- 
 ful fail from among the children of men.' 
 
 " It is impossible to describe the grief which per- 
 vades his flock. The lane in which his residence was 
 situated was constantly crowded with anxious inqui- 
 rers, and numerous prayer-meetings were held during 
 the progress of his illness. On Thursday there was 
 the usual meeting in the church ; and it was then 
 agreed, by many present, to meet for prayer the next 
 evening in the school-house. This they accordingly 
 did, but it proved all too small to contain the crowds 
 who flocked to it, and an adjournment to the church 
 was necessary. Towards the close, it became known 
 that increasing fears for their pastor's life were enter- 
 tained, and the mourning people were with difiiculty 
 persuaded against remaining in the church throughout 
 
202 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 the night; and when, the next morning, the news 
 spread amongst them, the voice of weeping might 
 have been heard in ahnost every household. On 
 Sabbath, Mr. Bonar of Coilace, the dear friend of the 
 deceased, and his companion in Palestine, preached 
 in the forenoon and afternoon, and Mr. Miller of Wal- 
 lacetown in the evening."* On each occasion the 
 church (including the passages) was crowded in every 
 part ; and it was remarked by those who were pre- 
 sent, that they never before saw so many men in tears. 
 It was truly a weeping congregation." 
 
 The funeral took place on the Thursday following. 
 "Business was almost totally suspended throughout 
 the bounds of his parish, and, hours before the time 
 appointed for the funeral arrived, crowds began to 
 draw towards the scene of the mournful obsequies 
 from all parts of the town, anxious to pay the last 
 sad token of respect to the remains of one whom 
 Hving they had esteemed so highly. Long before 
 the hour arrived, the whole line of road intervening 
 between the dwelling-house and the churchyard was 
 crowded with men, women, and children, principally 
 of the working classes. Every window overlooking 
 the procession, and the church itself, were likewise 
 densely filled with females, almost all attired in deep 
 mourning, and the very walls and house-tops were 
 surmounted with anxious on-lookers. Altogether not 
 fewer than six or seven thousand people must have 
 assembled. The funeral procession itself was followed 
 by nearly every man in the parish and congregation 
 who could command becoming attire ; by the brethren 
 of the Presbytery, and many ministers from the sur- 
 rounding districts, as well as from a distance ; by the 
 great body of the elders, by most of the Dissenting 
 ministers in town, and by multitudes of all ranks and 
 persuasions besides, who thus united in testifying their 
 sense of the loss which their common Christianity had 
 sustained in the untimely death of him in whom all 
 
 *Tlic texts were these: After reading- 2 Kings ii. 1-15, the subject 
 in the forenoon was Romans viii. 38, 31) — in the afternoon, Romans 
 viii. 28-30 — in the evening. Rev. viii. 13-17. 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 203 
 
 recognized one of its brightest ornaments. The grave 
 was dug in the pathway, near the south-west corner 
 of the church, and within a few yards of tlie pulpit 
 from which he has so often and so faithfully proclauBed 
 the word of life; and in this his lowly resting-place 
 all that is mortal of him was deposited, amid the tears 
 and sobs of the crowd. There his flesh rests in that 
 assured hope of a blessed resurrection, of the eleva- 
 ting and purifying influences of which, his life and his 
 ministry were so beauteous an example. His memory 
 will never perish. 
 
 " The church was opened for public worship every 
 evening during the week, and was on each occasion 
 filled to overflowing. On Sabbath, according to the 
 appointment of the Presbytery, funeral sermons were 
 preached by the Rev. INlessrs. Roxburgh, Somerville, 
 and Burns. My. Roxburgh preached jfrom Philip- 
 pians iii. 17, 20, and 21 ; jNIr. Somerville from He- 
 brews iv. 14; and Mr. Burns from Romans viii. 30. 
 So early as nine o'clock on Sabbath morning, a crowd, 
 many of them from distant country parishes, had assem- 
 bled outside of the church, and when the doors were 
 opened at ten o'clock, the church was instantly densely 
 filled in every part, lobbies included. Unfortunately, 
 they were chiefly strangers, very few of the congrega- 
 tion having succeeded in obtaining admission; and by 
 the time the ordinary hour for commencing divine 
 service had arrived, another large congregation had 
 assembled outside. To these -Sir. Somerville volun- 
 teered to preach, and there was service, therefore, 
 both within and without the church, and the same in 
 the afternoon. In the afternoon, arrangements were 
 made to secure the admission within the church of the 
 proper congregation, being all, male and female, hab- 
 ited in deep mourning — the poorest amongst them 
 having contrived, by a black ribbon, or some other 
 inexpensive mode within their reach, to give outward 
 token of their inward grief of heart." 
 
 Another tribute, from the pen of Mr. Hamilton, 
 Regent Square, London, is too precious to be forgot- 
 ten, though only a small part is inserted here. 
 
204 MEMOIR OF THE 
 
 " A striking characteristic of his piety was absorbing 
 love to the Lord Jesas. This was his ruhng passion. 
 It hghtened all his labours, and made the reproaches 
 which for Christ's sake sometimes fell on him, by 
 identifying him more and more with his suflering 
 Lord, unspeakably precious. He cared for no ques- 
 tion unless his blaster cared for it; and his main 
 anxiety was to know the mind of Christ. He once 
 told a friend, ^ I bless God every morning I awake 
 that I live in witnessing times.' And, in a letter six 
 months ago, he says, ' I fear lest the enemy shall so 
 contrive his measures in Scotland as to divide the 
 godly. May God make our way plain! It is com- 
 paratively easy to suffer when we see clearly that we 
 are suffering members of Jesus.' It were wrono: not 
 to mention the fact, that his public actings were a 
 direct emanation from the most heavenly ingredient 
 in his character — his love and gratitude to the Divine 
 Redeemer. In this he much resembled one whose 
 Letters were almost daily his dehght, Samuel Ruther- 
 ford; and, like Rutherford, his adoring contempla.tions 
 naturally gathered round them the imagery and lan- 
 guage of the Song of Solomon. Indeed, he had 
 preached so often on that beautiful book, that at last 
 he had scarcely left himself a single text of its ^ good 
 matter' which had not been discoursed on already. 
 It was very observable that, though his deepest and 
 finest feelings clothed themselves in fitting words, 
 with scarcely any effort, when he was descanting on 
 the glory or grace of Immanuel, he despaired of trans- 
 ferring to other minds tlie emotions which were over- 
 filling his own; and after describing those excellencies 
 which often made the careless wistful, and made dis- 
 ciples marvel, he left the theme with evident regret 
 that where he saw so much he could say so little. 
 And so rapidly did he advance in scriptural and ex- 
 perimental acquaintance with Christ, that it was like 
 one friend learning more of the mind of another. And 
 we doubt not that, when his hidden life is revealed, 
 it will be found that his progressive holiness and use- 
 fulness coincided with those new aspects of endear- 
 
REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 205 
 
 ment or majesty which, from time to time, he beheld 
 in the face of Immanuel, just as the ^ authority' of his 
 ^ gracious words,' and the impressive sanctity of his 
 demeanour, were so far a transference from Him who 
 spake as no man ever spake, and hved as no man 
 ever hved. In his case the words had palpable mean- 
 ing ; ' Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, 
 we are changed into the same image from glory to 
 glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.' 
 
 "More than any one whom we have ever known, 
 had he learned* to do everything in the name of the 
 Lord Jesus. Amidst all his humility, and it was very 
 deep, he had a prevailing consciousness that he was 
 one of those who belong to Jesus; and it was from 
 Him, his living Head, that he sought strength for the 
 discharge of duty, and through Him, his Righteous- 
 ness, that he sought the acceptance of his perform- 
 ances. The effect was to impart habitual tranquillity 
 and composure to his spirit. He committed his ways 
 to the Lord, and was sure that they would be brought 
 to pass; and though his engagements were often nu- 
 merous and pressing, he was enabled to go through 
 them without hurry or perturbation. We can discern 
 traces of this uniform self-possession in a matter so 
 minute as his hand-writing. His most rapid notes 
 show no symptoms of haste or bustle, but end in the 
 same neat and regular style in which they began; and 
 this quietness of spirit accompanied him into the most 
 arduous labours and critical emergencies. His effort 
 was to do all in the Surety; and he proved that pro- 
 mise, * Great peace have they which love thy law, and 
 nothing shall offend them.' 
 
 '•To speak with a plainness which such a solemn 
 occasion justifies, or rather to make the confession 
 which this heavy visitation calls for, it must be owned 
 that, whilst the possession of such a bright and shining 
 light was the Church of Scotland's privilege, the rarity 
 of such is the Church of Scotland's sin. When we 
 consider the ability and orthodoxy of the pious portion 
 of our ministry, it is mournful how little progress the 
 work of God has made. It certainly has not stood 
 
 18 
 
206 MEMOIR OF THE REV. R. M. McCHEYNE. 
 
 Still ; but taking the labours and success of the seven 
 short and feeble years allotted to this faithful evan- 
 gelist for our standard, we almost feel as if the work 
 had been going back. If few congregations have wit- 
 nessed the scenes with which St. Peter's had become 
 happily familiarjOne reason is that few ministers preach 
 with the fervour, the Christ-exalting simplicity, and 
 the prayerful expectancy of Robert McCheyne ; and 
 few follow out their preaching with the yet more im- 
 pressive urgency of his gracious intercourse and con- 
 sistent example. The voice of this loud providence 
 shall not have been uttered in vain if it impart new 
 instancy to the ministers, and new eagerness and 
 solemnity to hearers — if it break up that conventional 
 carnality which would restrain matters of eternal im- 
 port to pulpits and Sabbath-days, and make it hence- 
 forth the business of the gospel ministry to win souls 
 and tend them. Hireling shepherds will not regret 
 the brother who is gone. His life and labours were 
 a reproof to them. But if the many devout men 
 who, now that Stephen has been carried to his burial, 
 are making lamentation over him, would arise and 
 follow him, even as he followed Christ, the pres- 
 ent judgment would end in unprecedented blessing. 
 Coming at this conjuncture, the death of this faithful 
 witness is a striking call to ministerial disinterested- 
 ness and devotedness. 'Be thou faithful unto death, 
 and I will give thee a crown of life.' And while 
 some are crying mournfully, ' Where is the Lord 
 God of Elijah ?' we pray that many may find the 
 answer in a double portion of Ehjah's spirit descend- 
 ing on themselves. 
 
 "London, April 3, 1843." 
 
 Even so, Lord ! Amen. 
 
PEIVATE COERESPONDENCE. 
 
 TO REV. R. MACDONALD, BLAIRGOWRIE. 
 
 Written when first laid aside by that illness which afterwards led to the 
 
 Jewish Mission. 
 
 Edinburgh, January 12/^, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — The very day I received your 
 kind letter, I intended to have written you that you 
 might provide some one to stand in my place on 
 Monday evening next. I am ashamed at not having 
 answered your kind inquiries sooner, but am not 
 very good at the use of the pen, and I have had some 
 necessary letters to write. However, now I come to 
 you. This is Saturday, when you will be busy pre- 
 paring to feed the flock of God with food convenient. 
 Happy man! It is a glorious thing to preach the 
 unsearchable riches of Christ. We do not value it 
 aright till we are deprived of it; and then Philip 
 Henry's saying is felt to be true — that he would beg 
 all the week in order to be allowed to preach on the 
 Sabbath-day. 
 
 I have been far from alarmingly ill — my complaint 
 is all unseen, and sometimes unfelt. My heart beats 
 by night and day; but especially by night, too loud 
 and too strong. My medical friends have tried seve- 
 ral ways of removing it — hitherto without complete 
 success. As long as it lasts, I fear I shall be unfit for 
 the work of the ministry; but I do hope that God has 
 something more for me to do in the vineyard, and 
 that a little patient rest, accompanied by his blessing, 
 may quiet and restore me. 0! my dear friend, I 
 need it all to keep this proud spirit under. Andrew 
 Bonar was noticing the providence of " Elijah in the 
 wilderness" being my allotted part at our next meet- 
 
 207 
 
208 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 ing. I read it in the congregation the Sabbath after, 
 with an envious feehng in my own heart, though I 
 did not hke to express it, that I would now be sent a 
 hke day's journey to learn the same lessons as the 
 prophet — that it is not the tempest, nor the earth- 
 quake, nor the fire, but the still small voice of the 
 Spirit that carries on the glorious work of saving 
 souls. 
 
 Andrew will be with you on Monday, and I am 
 almost tempted to send this to-night to the post-office; 
 but it is not right to encourage the Sabbath mail, so 
 I will defer it till Monday. May you have a time of 
 refreshing from the presence of the Lord! May He 
 be the third with you who joined the two disciples 
 on the way to Emmaus, and made their hearts burn 
 by opening to them the Scriptures concerning him- 
 self! I hope your evening meeting may be as delight- 
 ful as the last. May your mind be solemnized, my dear 
 friend, by the thought that we are ministers but for 
 a time, that the Master may summon us to retire into 
 silence, or may call us to the temple above ; or the 
 midnight cry of the great bridegroom may break sud- 
 denly on our ears. Blessed is the servant that is found 
 waiting! Make all your services tell for eternity; 
 speak what you can look back upon with comfort 
 when you must be silent. 
 
 I am persuaded that I have been brought into re- 
 tirement to teach me the value and need of prayer. 
 Alas! I have not estimated aright the value of near 
 access unto God. It is not the mere daily routine of 
 praying for certain things that will obtain the blessing. 
 But there must be the need within — the real filial 
 asking of God the things which we need, and which 
 he delights to give. We must study prayer more. 
 Be instant in prayer. You will be thinking my afllic- 
 tion is teaching me much, by my saying these things. 
 0! I wish it were so. Nobody ever made less use 
 of affliction than 1 do. I feel the assaults of Satan 
 most when I am removed into a corner; every evil 
 thought and purpose rushes over my soul, and it is 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 209 
 
 only at times that I can find Him whom my soul 
 loveth. 
 
 Monday, January 14, 1839. — I now sit down to 
 finish this, and send it away. I am much in my 
 usual state to-day, perhaps, if anything, a little better. 
 Still I have no hope at present of resuming my 
 labours. Will you give me a Sabbath day's labour ? 
 I had no intention of asking you when I began this ; 
 but I feel that I had better not close it without asking 
 this favour. I would fain be back, but I do not feel 
 that I would be justified in so doing. When I give a 
 short prayer in the family, it often quite knocks me 
 up. I heard of my people to day; they are going on 
 as well as can be expected. Death is busy among 
 them, and Satan too. I try to lean them all on Him 
 who entrusted them to me. I did hear of your bro- 
 ther's illness, and sympathized with you in it, though 
 I heard no particulars. Write me particularly how 
 he is. I hope and believe that he has an anchor 
 within the veil, and therefore we need not fear for 
 him whatever storms may blow. Remember me to 
 him when you write him or see him. May we both 
 be made better men, and holier, by our affliction. 
 
 Take care of your health. Redeem the time, be- 
 cause the days are evil. Does the work of God still 
 go on among your people ? There is a decided im- 
 provement in the ministers here — more prayer, and 
 faith, and hope. There are marks of God's Spirit 
 not having left us. Remember me to Gillies and 
 Smith, your fellow-labourers. May their names be 
 in the book of life. Yours ever, 
 
 RoRT. Murray McCheyne. 
 
 TO MRS. THAIN, HEATHPARK. 
 
 During the continuance of the same illness. 
 
 EDl^'BURGII, February 0th, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Mrs. Thain, — 1 was happy to receive 
 your and Mr. Thain's kind letter. It is very cheer- 
 ing to me, in my exile from my flock, to hear of them. 
 
 IS* 
 
210 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 I send you a short line, as I am not good at writing. 
 I am glad yon are keeping pretty well, and still more 
 that your spiritual health seems to prosper. The 
 spring is advancing — I feel ah^eady the softness of 
 the wind — so that we may hope the winter is past, 
 the rain over and gone. I know the summer revives 
 you, and the doctor gives me good hope that it will 
 revive me. In spiritual things, this world is all winter 
 time as long as the Saviour is away. To them that 
 are in Christ there are some sweet glistenings of his 
 countenance, there are meltings of his love, and the 
 sweet song of the turtle dove when his Holy Spirit 
 dwells in the bosom ; still it is but winter time till our 
 Lord shall come. But then, "to you that fear his 
 name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with heal- 
 ing in his wings." And if before he comes we should 
 go away to be where he is, still we shall enter into a 
 world of perpetual summer — we shall behold his glory 
 which the Father gave him. 
 
 I feel much better than usual to-day, but I have 
 returns of my beating heart occasionally. Jesus stands 
 at the door and knocks, and sometimes I think the 
 door will give way before his gentle hand. I am bid 
 to try the sea-water hot-bath, which 1 hope will do 
 me good. I have good hope of being restored to my 
 people again, and only hope that I may come in the 
 fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ, that 
 this time of silent musing may not be lost. 
 
 I am thankful indeed at the appointment of Mr. 
 Lewis. I hope he has been given in answer to prayer, 
 and then he will be a blessing. We must pray that 
 he may be furnished from on high for his arduous 
 work. I have great hope that he will be the means 
 of raising many more churches and schools in our 
 poor town — I mean poor in spiritual things. 
 
 I hope Mr. Macdonald was happy, and made others 
 so. " Apollos watered." May great grace be upon 
 you all. Your affectionate friend, &,c. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 211 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 Before going forth on the Mission to Israel. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 15ih, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Mrs. Thain, — You will think me very- 
 unkind in breaking my word to Mr. Thain in not 
 writing you in answer to your kind letter by him. 
 But I did too much the week he was in Edinburgh, 
 and fairly knocked myself up, so that I had just to 
 lay aside my pen and suffer quietly. My friendly 
 monitor is seldom far away from me, and when I do 
 anything: too much he soon checks me. However, I 
 feci thankful that I am better again this week, and 
 was thinking I would preach again. This is always 
 the way with me. When my heart afflicts me, I say 
 to myself — Farewell, blessed work of the gospel min- 
 istry ! happy days of preaching Christ and him cruci- 
 fied! winning jewels for an eternal crown! And then 
 again when it has abated, I feel as if I would stand 
 up once more to tell all the world what the Lord of 
 glory has done for sinners. 
 
 You have sent me a pocket companion (a Bible) 
 for Immanuel's land. I shall indeed be very happy 
 to take it with me, to remind me of you and your 
 kind family, at the time when I am meditating on the 
 things that concern our everlasting peace. All my 
 ideas of peace and joy are linked in with my Bible ; 
 and I would not give the hours of secret converse 
 with it for all the other hours I spend in this world. 
 
 Mr. M is the bearer of this, and I have told 
 
 him he is to call on you with it. He is one much 
 taught of God, and though with much inward corrup- 
 tion to fight against, he still holds on the divine way 
 a burning and shining lamp. 
 
 I knew you would be surprised at the thought of 
 me going so far away; and, indeed, who could have 
 foreseen all that has happened? I feel very plainly 
 that it is the Lord's doing, and this has taken away 
 the edge of the pain. How many purposes God has 
 in view^ of which we know nothing ! Perhaps we do 
 
212 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 not see the hundredth part of his intentions toward us 
 in sending me away. 1 am contented to be led bhnd- 
 fold, for I know that all will redound, through the 
 thanksgiving of many, to the glory of our heavenly 
 Father. I feel very plainly that towards many among 
 my people this separation has been a most faithful 
 chastisement. To those that liked the man but not 
 the message — who were pleased with the vessel but 
 not with the treasure — it will reveal the vanity of 
 what they thought their good estate. To some, I hope, 
 it has been sent in mercy. To some, I fear, it has 
 been sent in judgment. Above all, none had more 
 need of it than myself; for I am naturally so prone to 
 make an ill use of the attachment of my people, that 
 I need to be humbled in the dust, and to see that it is 
 a very nothing. I need to be made willing to be for- 
 gotten. 0! I wish that my heart were quite refined 
 from all self-seeking. I am quite sure that our truest 
 happiness is not to seek our own — ^just to forget our- 
 selves — and to fill up the little space that remains 
 seeking only, and above all, that our God may be 
 glorified. But when I would do good, evil is present 
 with me. 
 
 I am not yet sure of the day of my going away. 
 There is to be a meeting on Monday to arrange mat- 
 ters. Andrew Bonar and Dr. Black can hardly get 
 away till the first week of April ; but I may probably 
 go before to London next week. I know you will 
 pray for me in secret and in the family, that I may be 
 kept from evil, and may do good. Our desire is to 
 save sinners — to gather souls, Jew or Gentile, before 
 the Lord come. 0! is it not wonderful how God is 
 making people take an interest in the Jews? Surely 
 the way of these Kings of the East v/ill be soon pre- 
 pared. 
 
 I shall be quite delighted if J is able to take a 
 
 small part in the Sabbath school. She knows it is 
 what I always told her, not to be a hearer of the 
 word only, but a doer. It is but a little time, and we 
 shall work no more here for Him. that we might 
 glorify him in the earth ! I believe there are better 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 013 
 
 ministers in store for Scotland than any that have yet 
 
 appeared. Tell J to stay herself upon God. 
 
 Jesus continueth ever, he hath an unchangeable priest- 
 hood. Others are not suffered to continue by reason 
 of death. 
 
 You expected me in Dundee before I go; but I dare 
 not. You remember Paul sailed past Ephesus — he 
 dared not encoanter the meeting with his people. 
 Indeed, I do not dare to think too much on my going 
 away, for it often brings sadness over my spirit, which 
 I can ill bear just now. But the will of the Lord be 
 done. 
 
 Kindest regards to you all. Christ's peace be left 
 with you. I shall remember you all, and be glad 
 to write you a word when I am far away. Yours 
 ever, kc. 
 
 TO 3IISS COLLIER, DUNDEE. 
 
 How his silence may be useful to his jjeople and himself. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 14, 1839. 
 My Dear Miss Collier, — I feel it very kind your 
 writing to me, and rejoice in sending you a word in 
 answer by my excellent friend Mr. Moody. Indeed, I 
 was just going to write to you when I received yours, 
 for I heard you had been rather poorly, and I was 
 going to entreat of you to take care of 3^ourself, for 
 you do not know how much my life is bound up in 
 your life, and in the life of those around you who are 
 like minded. I feel it quite true that my absence 
 should be regarded by my flock as a mark that God 
 is chastening them; and though 1 know well that I 
 am but a dim light in the hand of Jesus, yet there 
 is always something terrible where Jesus withdraws 
 the meanest light in such a dark world. I feel that 
 to many this trial has been absolutely needful. Many 
 liked their minister naturally, who had but little real 
 relish for the message he carried. God now sifts these 
 souls, and wants to show them that it is a looking to 
 Jesus that saves^ not a looking to man. I think I 
 
214 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 could name many to whom this trial should be blessed. 
 Some also who were really on the true foundation, 
 but were building wood, hay, and stubble upon it, 
 may be brought to see that nothing will truly comfort 
 in the day of the Lord but what can stand the hour 
 of trial. You yourself, my dear friend, may be 
 brought to cleave much more simply to the Lord 
 Jesus. You may be made to feel that Christ contin- 
 ueth ever, and hath an unchangeable priesthood, that 
 his work is perfect, and that infinitely; and poor and 
 naked as we are, we can appear only in him — only in 
 him. But if the trial was needed by my people, it 
 was still more needed by me. None but God knows 
 what an abyss of corruption is in my heart. He 
 knows and covers all in the blood of the Lamb. In 
 faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. It is perfectly 
 wonderful that ever God could bless such a ministry. 
 And now, when I go over all the faults of it, it 
 appears almost impossible that I can ever^ preach 
 again. But then I think again who can preach so 
 well as a sinner, who is forgiven so much, and daily 
 upheld by the Spirit with such a heart w^ithin ! I can 
 truly say that the fruit of my long exile has been, that 
 I am come near to God, and long more for perfect 
 holiness, and for the world where the people shall be 
 all righteous. I do long to be free from self, from 
 pride, and ungodliness, and I know where to go, "for 
 all the promises of God in Christ are yea and amen in 
 Christ Jesus." Christ is my armoury, and I go to 
 him to get the whole armour of God — the armour of 
 light. My sword and buckler, my arrows, my sling 
 and stone, all are laid up in Jesus. I know you find 
 it so. Evermore grow in this truly practical wisdom. 
 You have a Shepherd; you shall never want. What 
 effect my long absence may have on the mass of un- 
 converted souls I do not know. I cannot yet see God's 
 purposes toward them; perhaps it may be judgment, 
 as in the case of Ephesus, Rev. ii. 5 ; perhaps it may 
 be in mercy, as in the case of Laodicea, Rev. iii. 19; 
 or perhaps there are some who would not bend under 
 my ministry, who are to flow down as wax before 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 215 
 
 llie fire under the ministry of the precious fellow- 
 labourer who is to succeed me. William Burns, son 
 of the minister of Kilsyth, has for the present agreed 
 to supply my place; and though there is a proposal of 
 his being sent to Ceylon, I do hope he may be kept 
 for us. He is one truly taught of God — young, but 
 Christ lives in him. You know he comes of a good 
 kind by the flesh. 
 
 Another reason of our trial, I hope, has been God's 
 mercy to Israel. There is something so wonderful 
 about the way in which alldifficulties have been over- 
 come, and the way opened up, that I cannot doubt the 
 hand of Jehovah has been in it. This gives me, and 
 should give you, who love Israel, a cheering view of 
 this trial. The Lord meant it for great good. If God 
 be glorified, is not this our utmost desire ? ! it is 
 sweet, when in prayer we can lay ourselves and all 
 our interests along with Zion, in the hands of Him 
 whom we feel to be Abba! And if we are thus tied 
 ourselves in the same bundle with Zion, we must re- 
 sign all right to ourselves, and to our wishes. May 
 the Lord open up a way to his name being widely 
 glorified on the earth even before we die ! I know you 
 will pray for us on our way, that our feet may be 
 beautiful on the mountains of Israel, and that we 
 may say to Zion, " Thy God reigneth." Pray that 
 your poor friend may be supplied out of His riches in 
 glory, that he may not shrink in hours of trial, but 
 endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. I 
 will remember you when far away, and pray God to 
 keep you safe under the shadow of the Redeemer's 
 wings till I come again in peace, if it be his holy will. 
 Dr. Black and Andrew Bonar have both consented to 
 go. I shall probably be sent before to London, next 
 week, to open the way. I am not very strong yet; 
 often revisited by my warning friend, to tell me that 
 I may see the New Jerusalem before I see the Jeru- 
 salem beneath. However, I have the sentence of 
 death in myself, and do not trust to myself, but in 
 God, who raises the dead. 
 
 I saw Mrs. Coutts yesterday, in good health, and 
 
216 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 full of spirit. She almost offered to go with us to 
 Immanuel's land. I fear the Pastoral Letters are 
 not worth printing; but I shall ask others what they 
 think. Farewell for the present. The Lord give you 
 all grace and peace. Your affectionate pastor, &c. 
 
 TO THE EEV. W. C. BURNS, 
 
 On bis agreeing to undertake the charge of St. Peter's, during Mr. McC.'s absence 
 
 in Palestine. 
 
 Edinburgh, Hill Street, March 22, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — for I trust I may now reckon 
 you among the number in the truest sense — I haste 
 to send you a line in answer to your last. I am glad 
 you have made up your mind to begin your spiritual 
 charge over my flock on the first week of April. The 
 committee have resolved that I leave this on Wed- 
 nesday next, so that you will not hear from me again 
 till I am away. Take heed to thyself. Your own soul 
 is your first and greatest care. You know a sound 
 body alone can work with power ; much more a 
 healthy soul. Keep a clear conscience, through the 
 blood of the Lamb. Keep up close communion with 
 God. Study likeness to him in all things. Read 
 the Bible for your own growth first, then for your 
 people. Expound much ; it is through the truth 
 that souls are to be sanctified, not through essays 
 upon the truth. Be easy of access, apt to teach, and 
 the Lord teach you and bless you in all you do and 
 say. You will not find many companions. Be the 
 more with God. My dear people are anxiously wait- 
 ing for you. The prayerful are praying for you. 
 Be of good courage, there remaineth much of the 
 land to be possessed. Be not dismayed, for Christ 
 shall be with thee to deliver thee. Study Isaiah vi., 
 and Jeremiah i.,and the sending of Moses, and Psalm 
 li. 12, 13, and John xv. 26, 27, and the connexion in 
 Luke i. 15, 16. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 017 
 
 I shall hope to hear from you when I am away. 
 Your accounts of my people will be a good word to 
 make my heart glad. I am often sore cast down: 
 but the eternal God is my refuge. Now, farewell; the 
 Lord make you a faithful steward. Ever yours, &:c. 
 
 TO KEV. JOHN ROXBURGH, OF ST. JOHn's, DUNDEE. 
 
 The Holy Land. 
 
 Jerusalem, June \lth^ 1839. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I am sure you will be glad to 
 hear from your brother in the ministry, in this land 
 trodden by the feet of " God manifest in the flesh.'^ 
 My thoughts wander continually to the spot where 
 God first counted me faithful, putting me into the 
 ministry ; where, for two years, he made me a happy 
 minister of the gospel, and where I believe I have 
 many praying friends who will not forget me so long 
 as I live. In these sweet remembrances — whether in 
 the vales of Italy, or on the mighty waters, or in the 
 waste howling wilderness, or in this land of promise, 
 you and your family have their constant place. I 
 doubt not also that you often think and talk of me. 
 When some church extension expedition has turned 
 out well, you will say, " what would our travelling 
 friend say to this?" Or when the liberties of our 
 church are infringed, and the arm of unhallowed 
 power is raised against her, you perhaps think a mo- 
 ment, "how will our traveller bear this?" I am 
 thankful to Him who dwelt in the bush, that we are 
 all here in safety, and I myself in moderate health, 
 quite able to endure the fatigues of travelling, although 
 these have been very great. You would hear of our 
 swift journey through France, and our pleasant stay 
 in Italy. Malta was the next place of interest we 
 came to. It is a very lovely island, having customs 
 from every nation almost under heaven. It is highly 
 important as a centre of missionary operations, hav- 
 ing a printing press, and some useful, excellent men 
 
 19 
 
218 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 employed. In riding round its rocky shore, we looked 
 on every creek with interest, rernembering Pcmrs 
 shipwreck here, and his three months' stay in the 
 island. The atmosphere is truly pleasant, and tl^e 
 sky has a peculiarly fine tinge of yellowish red. We 
 had a pleasant sail past Greece, and among the won- 
 derful islands of the ^gean sea. We landed on one 
 called Syra, and saw the mission actively engaged, 
 six hundred Greek children reading God's word in 
 Greek. The same evening we sailed between Naxos 
 and Paros, where the beautiful marble was found, 
 and stretched our eyes to see Patmos, where the 
 beloved John wrote the Revelation. We could only 
 see the waves that washed its shore. We passed 
 Crete, and read the Epistle to Titus with a new 
 interest; and the next day at four (13th May) sailed 
 into the harbour of Alexandria. The customs of the 
 East are very striking to the eye at first. The tur- 
 ban, the beard, the hyke or immense plaid, the wide 
 Arab trousers, the black visages and legs of the men, 
 quite arrest the attention. The close veil, the fore- 
 head ornaments, the earrings, the anklets, the burden 
 carried on the head, the children carried on the 
 shoulder, or on the side, all these in the women are 
 striking, especially at first. They will recall to you 
 many of the words of the prophets. The plague 
 having broken out at Alexandria the day we arrived, 
 we were prevented from going up to Cairo, and after 
 having visited the Jews in the synagogues, we deter- 
 mined on proceeding through the desert for the Holy 
 Land, that we might escape quarantine. We left 
 Alexandria on the i4th May, and reached Jerusalem 
 on the 7th June. We were about twenty-two days 
 living after the manner of Bedouins in the wilder- 
 ness. 
 
 Mount Carmel, June 24M, 1839. — I thought to 
 have got this letter finished in Jerusalem, but we were 
 hurried away so unexpectedly, in consequence of a 
 considerable increase of the plague in the Holy City 
 then, that I had to leave this and many other things 
 undone. You will see bv the date that we are now 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 219 
 
 beside that mountain where God did such wonders in 
 the days of Elijah. We are encamped in our tents 
 within a few yards of the sea. I am now writing 
 upon a mat on the sand. The thermometer is some- 
 where about 80°, and I am writing with my desk on 
 my If nee. For the sake of distinctness, I wilt take up 
 the thread of our story where I last left it off. Our 
 journey through the desert was a very trying one in 
 many ways. I iioio understand the meaning of the 
 text which says, " God led the Israelites through the 
 wilderness to try them, and prove them, and make 
 them know what was in their hearts." The loneli- 
 ness is very great. The utter silence of all the world 
 to you — the want of every necessary except what you 
 carry along with you — all these try the soul in a way 
 you can hardly imagine, whether we will cast all our 
 care upon God or no. The first part of the desert 
 journey we went upon asses: but the second, and 
 longest part, upon camels — a mode of journeying of all 
 others the most fatiguing. I have thought a hundred 
 times what a singular picture it would make to draw 
 our company riding through the desert exalted to the 
 giddy height of the hunch of the camel. I have often 
 thought also, more seriously and properly, how plainly 
 God heard the prayers of all our dear friends in pre- 
 serving us from many dangers. It is quite a miracle 
 that I was enabled to bear the fatigue of being up 
 before sunrise, and sailing over that burning wilder- 
 ness, often twelve hours a-day. We came the near- 
 est way from Egypt, alluded to in Exod. xiii. 17, and 
 had opportunity of seeing Rosetta and Damietta, two 
 curious Egyptian towns. We sailed across a lake called 
 Menzaleh, and encamped one night beside the ruins 
 of the ancient Zoan. Amid these we could plainly 
 trace the finger of God in the fulfilment of the word 
 in Ezekiel xxx. 14, " I will set fire in Zoan." At 
 El Arish, the last town of Egypt, we clearly traced 
 what we believed to be the River of Egypt, so often 
 spoken of as the boundary of Judah. Like all the 
 streams in the south, it is perfectly dry, but the water- 
 course was very evident. By the way, this suggests 
 
220 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 the meaning of a text which 1 never understood 
 before, Psahii cxxvi., " Turn our captivity as the 
 stream in the south." In the whole of the south part 
 of Canaan the streams dry up in the summer. I 
 think we only came upon one flowing stream between 
 the hill and Jerusalem. In the winter God restores 
 these streams, supplying them with abundance of 
 water. Now this is tlie very prayer of the Psalmist, 
 " Do for our brethren in captivity what thou doest for 
 the streams in the south. Restore them in all their life, 
 and fulness and beauty." So may it be in all our 
 parishes in all our beloved Scotland — never so lovely 
 or desirable as when we are far from it, and from its 
 pleasant Sabbaths. I must tell you now about Jeru- 
 salem. It is indeed the most wonderful place I was 
 ever in. We reached it about twelve o'clock, under 
 a burning sun. The bleak rocky hills over which we 
 crossed were like a heated oven, but all was forgotten 
 when the city of the Great King came in sight. " Your 
 house is left unto you desolate." That word was 
 upon every tongue. Almost every approach to Jeru- 
 salem gives you this desolate feeling ; but when you 
 stay there^ and wander down into its deep valleys — or 
 climb its terraced hills — or sit beside shady Siloam, 
 whose waters flow softly — or meditate on Mount 
 Zion, ploughed like a field — the whole current of your 
 feelings is made to flow, and Jerusalem presents the 
 remains of departed beauty such as you seek for in 
 vain in any other land. The scene which might seem 
 of greatest interest in Jerusalem is Calvary, where the 
 Son of God died. But God has so willed it that 
 nothing but pain and disappointment follow the in- 
 quirer after the spot where the blood flowed which 
 cleanses from all sin. You know there is a great 
 church built over the place. The hole made by the 
 cross is enclosed in a star of gold; and a marble slab 
 covers what t/iei/ call the sepulchre. They tell you 
 so many heinous falsehoods, that we were all inclined 
 to doubt the whole matter. The place in Jerusalem 
 is now within the walls, instead of "without the gate." 
 There is no mount — no garden — nothing to remind 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 221 
 
 you of that day of awful interest. Gethsemane makes 
 up in interest all that we want in Calvary. The very 
 place remains, and by its simplicity convinces the mind 
 that it was the spot that Jesus loved. Above you, on 
 the opposite side of Kedron, the high steep brow of 
 Moriah rises; then the wall of the city; and above it, 
 the Mosque of Omar, which stands on the site of 
 God's holy temple. The road to Bethany passes in 
 front of the garden. The path up the Mount of Olives 
 forms another houndary. It is enclosed with old stone 
 walls, like all the walls of Judea, of rude stones, with- 
 out any cement. Eight very old olives, of a thousand 
 years at least, stand as monuments in the place. It is 
 a sweet and sacred spot ; and you will not wonder 
 that we were often drawn to visit it, and to pray on 
 the very spot where Jesus sweated great drops of 
 blood. The Mount of Olives is a hill of which you 
 never weary. As you ascend it from Gethsemane, 
 every step gives you a new prospect. We turned 
 round again and again to look upon Jerusalem. Jere- 
 miah says, " From the daughter of Zion all beauty is 
 departed." And I believe if we had seen " the per- 
 fection of beauty" in the day of its glory, we would 
 say the same. Still, from the Mount of Olives it is 
 most beautiful. You see "the mountains all standing 
 round about Jerusalem." The whiteness of the build- 
 ings gives it a dazzling appearance. The deep valleys 
 on every side are very remarkable. On the north, a 
 rising tower marks Ramah, where Samuel was born; 
 and on the south, the eye fixes on Herodion, a conical 
 hill beside Bethlehem. When you come to the top of 
 Olivet, you look to the east, and the Dead Sea seems 
 to be stretched at your feet. The mountains of Moab 
 look quite near ; and you try to find out Pisgah, 
 where Moses enjoyed his view of the good land. 
 Bethany appears upon the east side of a declivity near 
 you — a pleasant village. Twice we wandered out as 
 far as Bethany. It was pleasant indeed to sit under 
 its spreading fig-trees, and to read over the xi. John. 
 Returning by the Jericho road, we stopped at the spot 
 where Jesus wept over the city. It is the place where 
 
 19* 
 
ooo PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 /W /N^ ^ 
 
 you '^ come near and behold the city," at the descent 
 of the Mount of Ohves. After full consideration, I 
 believe it to be the very spot. Zion is literally 
 ploughed like a field. I have brought with me some 
 barley that I found growing on its summit. Jerusa- 
 lem is become heaps. The heaps of ruins within the 
 city are amazing; in some parts they are higher than 
 the walls. "The mountain of the house is like the 
 high places of the forest." Mount Moriah has now 
 two Turkish mosques upon it. Aceldama is a peace- 
 ful spot, overhanging the pleasant valley of Hinnom, 
 once the scene of hicieous rites. The plague was very 
 severe in the city during our stay there, which pre- 
 vented us from having that close intercourse with the 
 inhabitants, and especially with the Jews, which was 
 so desirable. Mr. Nicolayson, the English missionary, 
 acted towards us like a brother. He lodged us in one 
 of the mission houses upon Mount Zion, and gave us 
 opportunity of preaching and of receiving the Lord's 
 Supper. It was truly pleasant to eat of that bread 
 and drink of that cup in an upper room in Jerusa- 
 lem. There are about five thousand Jews in Jeru- 
 salem, very poor and very divided among themselves, 
 looked down upon as dogs by the Moslems; still they 
 bear in their faces and manners the proof that the 
 land is their own. They are entirely supported by 
 contributions from Europe. They devote themselves 
 to the study of the Law and the Talmud. I had an 
 interesting meeting with one Jew at the large stones, 
 the only remains of God's temple. He was sitting 
 praying, and looking very sad. I asked him what he 
 was readina:. He showed me; it was the xxii. Psalm 
 in Hebrew. I took it up and read it over to him. 
 He said he understood it — and that it applied to 
 David. I showed him that could not be, for David 
 was never pierced in hands and feet. I shortly ex- 
 plained to him the gospel, and showed him the only 
 way of forgiveness. He looked very sad sitting on 
 the ground. 
 
 I must hurry on. We visited Hebron, and had an 
 interesting meeting with the Jews there. It is a de- 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 223 
 
 lightful place. We visited Bethlehem on onr return. 
 It is curious that almost all the inhabitants of Beth- 
 lehem are Christians — that is, Greeks and Catholics. 
 We left Jerusalem on the ISth instant, and proceeded 
 north by Ramah, Gibeon, Bethel, Sychar, Samaria, to 
 Carmel. I cannot tell you the delightful and solemn 
 feelings with which we traverse this land of promise. 
 The fulfilment of prophecy is everywhere remarkable. 
 At Sychar we tried to find out the well where Jesus 
 sat wearied. Mr. Bonar found it, and let his Bible 
 fall into it. He could not get it again, " for the well is 
 deep." Ebal on the north, a frowning rocky hill. 
 Gerizzim is also precipitous, but smiles with verdant 
 gardens. Sychar is a beautiful place. We spent a 
 most interesting morning among the Jews and Sama- 
 ritans — saw both their synagogues, and reasoned with 
 them out of the Scriptures, proving that Jesus is the 
 Christ. Oh, that the Saviour would do as he did be- 
 fore in this place — say plainly, "I that speak unto 
 thee am i7e." When we meet, if that be the will of 
 God, I shall have many descriptions to give you of the 
 scenes of this land. It has far surpassed all my ex- 
 pectations. We arrived at Carmel on Saturday, and 
 are now in quarantine. We and all our clothes were 
 yesterday bathed in the sea. In consequence of under- 
 going this process our quarantine is seven days shorter; 
 and on Monday next we hope to proceed to Tiberias 
 and Saphet — the only places of importance for Jews, 
 except Tyre and Sidon, which we shall visit on our 
 way to Beyrout. We are sorry that so much of our 
 time is taken up, but we have gone as quickly as pos- 
 sible in the circumstances. We are all in good health. 
 I suft'er occasionally from my heart, but much less 
 than I used. I do hope, if it be the will of my Master, 
 that I may yet again serve him in the gospel of his 
 Son. This is a delicious climate. I have heard once 
 from home. J am thankCul to hear of the peace and 
 grace given to my people on our communion-day. 
 Dear people, may the Great Shepherd feed them! I 
 was happy to hear of Dr. Chalmers' success. Dis- 
 mayed at the decision of the Lord Chancellor, but 
 
 \ 
 
224 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 "Jehovah nissi," — the Lord is our banner. My 
 kindest regards to Mrs. R., and to the brethren that 
 ask for me. I often pray most humbly for all, even 
 my enemies. Yours ever, &c. 
 
 TO REV. B. MACDONALD, OF BLAIRGOM'RIE. 
 
 The Holy Land. 
 
 Mount Carmel, June ^&th, 1839. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I wrote to you from the land of 
 Egypt, and now from the Jand of Promise. I would 
 have written from Jerusalem, but our departure was 
 so hurried, owing to an increase of the awful dis- 
 ease of plague, that I could not accomplish it. In- 
 deed, I thought it would be more for the pleasure 
 and advantage of all my friends if I spent my time 
 in fully seeing the wonders of the city of the Great 
 King. It is all deeply graven on my memory and 
 my heart. The first sight of Jerusalem made my 
 heart snik within me — it was so desolate: the walls 
 appeared so low, so dark, so poor. But better ac- 
 quaintance with its deep valleys and singular hills, 
 its trees and fountains, has made it appear one of 
 the loveliest spots Jesus visited. There is a holy 
 beauty about Jerusalem, for you cannot walk a step 
 without remembering the scenes that have passed 
 there, and without looking forward to a time when 
 it will again become the joy of the whole earth. You 
 will be glad to know that i have stood all our great 
 fatigues wonderfully, and even without being the worse 
 of them, but rather the better. I may almost say I 
 feel that God has been answering the continued prayer 
 of those that love me ; still I am not yet what I was, 
 though I hope to be. All my companions had the 
 privilege of preaching in Jerusalem. I felt that it was 
 kept from me, but that it was overflowing goodness 
 that gave us to receive the broken bread and poured 
 out wine, in an upper chamber, where Jesus first 
 instituted it. I wish I could recount to you all that 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 225 
 
 we have seen with our eyes, so as to make you ahiiost 
 see it all over again. Joy is increased hy spreading it 
 to others. Thus Christ's joy and glory are increased 
 by making us partakers of it. Our life in the wilder- 
 ness was a singular one. Since the day I wrote you 
 we have never known the luxury of a bed. We spread 
 our mats upon the sand, and God watches over us, 
 when we are under the cover of our frail tent, as 
 much as if we were within brazen gates and bars. We 
 often hear the cry of the wolves at night, and there 
 are many lynxes and hyenas in this very mountain; 
 but God keeps us safely. The burning heat of the 
 desert — the long fatiguing journeys, sometimes twelve 
 hours or fourteen in the day upon the camel — the 
 insatiable thirst — and our weakness — were very trying 
 to our faith and to our temper; it proved us, and 
 made us know what was in our heart. Ah! dear 
 friend, wherever we journey, union to Jesus and 
 holiness from his Spirit flowing into us, is our chief 
 and only happiness. Never cease to show your people 
 that to be holy is to be happy; and that to bring us 
 to perfect holiness and likeness to God was the very 
 end for v/hich Christ died. W^e entered the land of 
 the Philistines 1st of June. You know the prophets 
 say that the seacoast there is to be ^^ cottages for 
 shepherds and folds for flocks." Zeph. ii. 6. It is 
 really so. You cannot imagine a country more com- 
 pletely covered with flocks and herds — camels, and 
 asses, and oxen, and sheep, and goats. The inhabitants 
 are Arabs — a poor and ignorant race of men. How 
 often we have wished for the Arabian tongue to preacli 
 to them the unsearchable riches of Christ. We passed 
 like the spies through the valley of I^shcol. We came 
 to a small Arab town, Bet-hanoon. For illustration 
 I will draw it.* This will give you an idea of all 
 Arab towns. Every roof is flat; so that the people 
 sit there, pray there, dry their corn and sift it there. 
 
 *Here he had sketched the village with liis pen. He enlivened 
 many of liis letters with these outlines, that spoke more expressively 
 than words. 
 
226 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 There are no vines in Eshcol now, but immense 
 bunches of grapes are still produced in some places 
 of the Holy Land. The trees around the village are 
 figs — a beautiful dark green tree. We are now 
 tasting the first ripe figs, which are, like Jeremiah's, 
 very good. We crossed the brook Sorek, quite dry; 
 indeed, I think we only met with one flowing stream 
 between the desert and Jerusalem. The streams in 
 the south are all dry in the summer (see Psalm cxxvi.) 
 We slept that night beside a small town, which we 
 take to be Eshtaol,near which Samson was born. We 
 saw there the brown tents of some Bedouin Arabs, 
 illustrating Song i. — the brown tents of Kedar. This 
 was in the tribe of Dan. Next day we went due east, 
 across the vast plain Sephela, where Asa fought his 
 battle, 2 Chron. xiv., till we entered among the lovely 
 hills of Judah. A wonderful fulfilment of God's 
 word was pressed on our attention all that day. The 
 quantities of weeds in the plains are quite remarkable, 
 and all of them are of a briery, prickly nature. I 
 counted eleven different kinds of thistle, some of them 
 of gigantic size. In a field where barley had been 
 sown, there were more of these thorns and briers 
 than of the barley. Now turn to Isaiah xxxii. 13, 
 " Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns 
 and briers;" and see how long (v. 15), "Until the 
 Spirit be poured upon us from on high." Indeed, 
 every mountain and valley of this land is a witness 
 for God, speaking silently but mightily, declaring that 
 God's word abideth for ever. 
 
 We arrived at Jerusalem on 7th June, and lighted 
 off" our camels within the Jaflu gate. The first thing 
 that struck me was the quantity of various heaps. 
 (See Micah iii. 12.) It was two or three days before 
 we recovered our fatigues. The first time we went 
 out was to the two pools of Gihon ; the upper pool 
 still contains water. 
 
 Again, we v/ent to Mount Olivet. Winding round 
 the noble walls of Jerusalem, Mount Olivet appears 
 whh its softly rounded triple point. It is a beautiful 
 hill, of very great extent. It is composed of a pure 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 227 
 
 white limestone, which appears in many places, and 
 gives the whole a whitish appearance. Fine old 
 olives adorn it on every side — fig-trees here and there 
 — and pomegranates, with their beautifnl deep red 
 flowers. A monastery and a mosque are on the top, 
 and three or four small towers on different points of 
 it. Crops of barley may be discerned here and there. 
 It is altogether a pleasant hill. Between you and it 
 lies the deep valley of Jehoshaphat. The bed of the 
 Kedron, quite dry, forms the lowest part. Going 
 along by the east wall of Jerusalem till you are nearly 
 opposite the place where the temple stood, (now the 
 mosque of Omar,) you then descend the steep bank 
 of Moriah to the Kedron. A small bridge now helps 
 you to cross. Here David went, flying from Absa- 
 lom bare-footed. Here Jesus used to cross going to 
 Gethsemane or to Bethany. The path before you 
 leads right up the steepest part of Mount Olivet. It 
 is a pleasant path. Turning every now and then, you 
 see Jerusalem in all its faded glory, minarets and cupo- 
 las lying beneath you. Another path winds upwards 
 round the hill to Bethany, the sweet village of Mar- 
 tha and Mary, two miles off. The little nook be- 
 tween these two paths forms all that remains of Geth- 
 semane. It is a pleasant spot. No one that knows 
 the Saviour can visit it, and look upon its eight old 
 olive-trees, without feeling drawn to it. We tried to 
 pray there, where Jesus sweated blood for us. It 
 was sweet to intercede for you and all we love in 
 that sacred spot. Another favourite spot was the 
 fountain of Siloam, farther down the valley of Je- 
 hoshaphat. It flows so softly from under the temple, 
 that you cannot hear the ripple of its waters. You 
 descend a great many steps in the rock, and drink its 
 delightful waters. I send you a small hymn on the 
 other side, which will imprint it on your memory. 
 The valley of Hinnom is a deep gorge or vale to the 
 south of Jerusalem. Mount Zion is actually ploughed 
 like a field. It descends steeply into Hinnom, which 
 again has a rocky barrier on the other side. Acel- 
 dama is a fearful spot above. 
 
228 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 We left Jerusalem on 18th June, and arrived here 
 on the 21st. Many a pleasant scene we saw be- 
 tween. It is a delightsome land. One only I can 
 mention — Sychar. It was a sweet evening when 
 we entered the valley made by Ebal, a gloomy bar- 
 ren hill, and Gerizzim, a rocky hill, but garnished 
 with gardens. The town lies beautiful between, 
 keeping nearer to Gerizzim. The next morning we 
 visited the synagogue. A. B. was in time for the 
 service at six o'clock. He had very interesting dis- 
 cussions with several of the Jews, all carried on in 
 Plebrew. You may believe we are not very fluent 
 in the holy tongue, and yet it is wonderful how we 
 get on. We visited the Samaritans also, and, after 
 taking oft^ our shoes, we were admitted into their 
 synagogue to see the MS. of the Pentateuch, three 
 thousand six hundred years old. Andrew alone 
 found out the well where Jesus sat, and dropped his 
 Bible in by accident. The Jews here are far kinder 
 and pleasanter than in Europe. They wear a beau- 
 tiful dress. They are much fairer in colour than the 
 Arabs, and every way a more noble people ; and 
 then, when you look your Bible, and see the pro- 
 mises that are waiting to be be fulfilled to them, 
 how does the heart fill towards them. Gpd will 
 yet gather ihera one by one. Pray still for their 
 in-bringing. It is not easy to pray really for Israel; 
 it needs you to have much of the peculiar mind of 
 God. The same evening we visited Samaria, about 
 six or eight miles north of Sychar. It is now a poor 
 Arab village, but the finger of God is there. It is a 
 hill surrounded by hills on all sides. Micah i. 6, is 
 the clearest description of it. It is like an heap of 
 the field. Just as you have seen the stones gathered 
 out of a field into heaps, such is Samaria. The vast 
 ruins are all thrown down, and form just heaps in 
 the field. It is as the plantings of a vineyard. There 
 is but one vine on the whole hill, but it is all terraced 
 and cleared, just as if it were to be planted with 
 vines. ^'And I will pour,'' &c. This is wonderfully 
 fulfilled. It filled me with holy awe to look at the 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 229 
 
 heaps of stones — fragments of pillars all rolling down 
 into the vallev. The foundations are actually dis- 
 covered. What a monument of the truth of 'God! 
 I have only time to commend you to God, and to say 
 — brother, pray for us. Yours ever, &c. 
 
 P. S. — Commend me to your true yoke-fellow, Mr. 
 Smith, and to Mr. Gillies, and to I\Ir. Baxter. I cease 
 not to mention all in my prayers, and hope that they 
 do not forget me. We are made partakers in Christ, 
 if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto 
 the end. 
 
 TO W3I. C. BURNS, DUNDEE. 
 
 Inquiries about the revival on first coming home. 
 
 20 Hill Street, Edinburgh, 
 15th November 1839. 
 
 My Dear Friend and Brother, — I last night 
 arrived once more in my beloved home, conducted 
 through every danger by the unseen hand of our 
 Father in Heaven. I cannot lose a moment in 
 writing you a few lines. It was not till we arrived in 
 Hamburg that we heard anything of what has been 
 doing in our beloved land for the last five months. 
 There we heard only a rumour that God had visited 
 his people in love, and those also that were Lo-Ammi. 
 You may believe that it was with a thankful, joyful 
 spirit tliat we read of these things. I cannot rest till 
 I hear from you what has been done among my own 
 dear flock. I do not like to impose a task on you ; 
 but if you have an hour's leisure, it would be truly 
 gratiiyingto me to hear from you, before I come over, 
 a minute account of all that God seems to have 
 wrought in Dundee during my absence. You re- 
 member it was the prayer of my heart when we 
 parted, that you might be a thousand fold more 
 blessed to the people than ever my ministry had been. 
 How will it gladden my heart, if you can really tell 
 me that it has been so. My poor dear flock, hard- 
 
 20 
 
230 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 hearted and stiff-necked as they were, if the Lord has 
 really opened their hearts, and brought them to a 
 saving knowledge of Christ, and if their hearts and 
 lives are together changed, I will bless God while T 
 have any being. 
 
 The work at Kilsyth seems to be owned by all 
 God's true servants as not the w^ork of man, but in- 
 deed divine. What a great joy to you and to your 
 excellent father to have your labour thus honoured of 
 God ! The Lord preserve you both from all the per- 
 sonal danger to your own souls which such success 
 exposes you to ! 
 
 I must not write much, having agreed to preach on 
 Sabbath. I would often have written to you when 
 away, but you know my weakness, and I was always 
 uncertain as to your movements. Do write me if you 
 have time. Tell me all the good and all the bad. I 
 know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan also is 
 busiest. What of my elders? Of my dear esta- 
 blished Christians? What of those who were but 
 lambs? And what of those v/hom I left in darkness 
 and in the shadow of death? 
 
 The Lord send me good news. 
 
 I shall try to be over on Thursday evening next, if 
 I am well, and trust to join you in praising God to- 
 gether for all his mercy, and grace, and faithfulness, 
 since we parted. Wliether I shall be able to resume 
 the full work of the ministry again or no, I cannot 
 tell. My heart still beats too much. But I shall try: 
 and if the Lord shows me that my work in that way 
 is done, I shall pray for submission. 
 
 Do write me speedily, for I weary to hear. 
 
 With regard to temporal things; remember I shall 
 expect you honestly to tell how far your small salary 
 has gone to cover your expenses. And if it has not 
 covered them, remember I insist on your demanding 
 as much more as will. The workman is worthy of 
 his hire. 
 
 And now the Lord keep you humble and prayerful 
 in secret, and may it not be needful that you be atHict- 
 ed as I have been; and may your ministry be blessed 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPOXDE^XE. 231 
 
 Still a thousand times more ! With kindest love to all 
 my people, yours affectionateh^, &c. 
 
 TO MISS COLLIER, DUNDEE. 
 
 Riches of Christ — resemblance to him. 
 
 Edinburgh, February 26ih, 1840. 
 
 My Dear Miss Collier, — I am sorry to leave town 
 without seeing you, but I find myself obliged to do 
 so. A long and interesting meeting of Presbytery 
 took up the greater part of my time. I am delighted 
 to hear that you are still keeping a little better, and 
 fondly hope the Lord may restore you to us once 
 more, to help us by your prayers in these trying but 
 glorious times. I would like to have seen you once 
 again before going back, but I must just content my- 
 self with casting you on the Lord on whom you be- 
 lieve. Precious friend and unchangeable priest is 
 Christ — sweeter to you than honey and the honey- 
 comb. How great is the goodness he hath laid up 
 for them that fear him! Just as the miser lays up 
 money that he may feast his eyes upon it, so Christ 
 has laid up unsearchable riches that he may supply 
 all our need out of them. Unfathomable oceans of 
 grace are in Christ for you. Dive and dive again, 
 you will never come to the bottom of these depths. 
 How many millions of dazzling pearls and gems are 
 at this moment hid in the deep recesses of the ocean 
 caves. But there are unsearchable riches in Christ. 
 Seek more of them. The Lord enrich you with them. 
 I have always thought it a very pitiful show when 
 great people ornament themselves with brilliants and 
 diamonds ; but it is truest wisdom to adorn the soul 
 with Christ and his graces. " Can a maid forget her 
 ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have 
 forgotten me, days without number.'^ You see my 
 pen runs on, though I fear you will hardly be able to 
 read what I write. The Lord Jesus give you out of 
 
232 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 his fulness, and grace for grace. In a mirror you will 
 observe that every feature of the face is reflected — 
 both the large and small features. Now our soul 
 should be a mirror of Christ ; we should reflect every 
 feature; for every grace in Christ there should be a 
 counterpart grace in us. The Lord give you this; 
 then I can ask no more for you. Your times are in 
 his hand. Psalm xxxi. May you have the blessing 
 of Asher, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." 
 
 Farewell till we meet. Kindest regards to Miss 
 M. and Mrs. Coutts, and believe me ever yours in 
 lasting bonds, &c. 
 
 TO ME. J. T. JUST. 
 
 How to conduct prayer-meetings. 
 
 March 17, 1840. 
 
 My Dear John, — I was glad to receive your letter, 
 and am happy to answer you on the matter in which 
 you apply to me. No person can be a child of God 
 without living in secret prayer; and no community of 
 Christians can be in a lively condition without unity 
 in prayer. In Daniel's time you see how it was. 
 (Dan. ii. 17, 18.) You see what Jesus said to his dis- 
 ciples on it (Matt, xviii. 19,) and what a sweet pro- 
 mise of Ifls presence and a gracious answer he con- 
 nects with meeting for prayer. You see how it will 
 be in the latter day (Zech. vii. 21,) wlien meetings for 
 prayer, or, at least, concerts for prayer, shall be held 
 by diflerent towns. One great rule in holding them 
 is, that they be really meetings of disciples. If four 
 or five of you, that know the Lord, would meet to- 
 gether regularly, you will find that far more profitable 
 than a meeting open to all. In an open meeting you 
 are apt to become teachers, and to be proud. In a 
 secret meeting you feel all on a level, poor and needy, 
 seeking water. If a young man, acquainted with any 
 of you, becomes concerned about his soul, or a lively 
 Christian is visiting any of you, these may be admitted; 
 but do not make your meeting more open. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 233 
 
 The prayer-meeting I like best, is where there is 
 only praise and prayer, and the reading of God's 
 word. There is then least room for frail human na- 
 ture to pervert the meeting to an improper end. It 
 is well to read regularly through a book of Scripture, 
 or at least to fix the chapter the evening before, that 
 it may be prayed over in secret, before coming to the 
 meeting. If you only read, then two chapters may 
 be read, and then two members pray at a meeting. 
 Each member would take his turn. Let there be no 
 presiding of one over another, for all are brethren. 
 Wlien a godly minister, or elder, or experienced Chris- 
 tian is visiting you, he should be invited to take the 
 whole service. 
 
 INIany meetings are not contented with merely 
 reading God's word, they fix upon some verse or 
 two as matter of conversation, and each one gives his 
 opinion round. Some take a question of the Shorter 
 Catechism each evening, and speak on it in the same 
 manner. Some propose cases of conscience, and how 
 Christians ought to act in different cases. Now, I 
 never forbid any of these where the members prefer 
 this : still, I must confess I feel the danger to which 
 they are exposed. You require more grace to be 
 kept humble and meek, and loving, if you engage in 
 this service. You are exposed to the danger of dif- 
 fering from one another — disputing, seeking admira- 
 tion and pre-eminence, to all which you know, dear 
 John, your hearts are naturally most prone. If you 
 choose any of these, the first appears the best, that of 
 fixing on a verse or two of the chapter read. But 
 do seek meekness in speaking together upon it. JVIeet 
 weekly, at a convenient hour. Be regular in attend- 
 ance. Let nothing keep you away from your meet- 
 ing. Pray in secret before going. Let your prayers 
 in the meeting be formed as much as possible upon 
 what you have read in the Bible. You will thus learn 
 variety of petition, and a Scripture style. Pray that 
 you may pray to God, and not for the ears of man. 
 Feel his presence more than man's. Pray for the 
 outpouring of the Spirit on the Church of Christ and 
 
 20^ 
 
234 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Ibr the world — for the purity and unity of God's 
 children — for the raising up of godly ministers, and 
 the blessing of those that are already. Pray for the 
 couY^ersion of your friends, of your neighbours, of the 
 whole town. Pray for the sending of the gospel to 
 the Jews, and to the gentile nations. 
 
 Pride is Satan's wedge for splitting prayer-meet- 
 ings to pieces — watch and pray against it. If you 
 have not the Spirit of God among you, you will have 
 the spirit of the devil. Watch against seeking to be 
 greater than one another; watch against lip-religion. 
 Above all, abide in Christ, and he will abide in you. 
 He is able to keep you from falling, and to make you 
 happy, holy young men. There is no joy like that of 
 holiness. May Enoch's companion be yours. 
 
 Write me how you come on, and believe me ever 
 yours affectionately, &c. 
 
 TO A PARISHIONER OX A SICK-BED. 
 
 How cares and troubles sanctify. 
 
 March 31 St, 1840. 
 
 Dear M. — I may not see you for a little, as I am 
 not strong; and, therefore, I send you a line in an- 
 swer to your letter. I like to hear from you, and 
 especially when God is revealing himself to your 
 soul. All his doings are wonderful. It is, indeed, 
 amazing how he makes use of affliction to make us 
 feel his love more. Your house is, I trust, in some 
 measure like that house in Bethany of which it is 
 said, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and 
 Lazarus." They had different degrees of grace. 
 One had more faith and another more love, still Jesus 
 loved them all. Martha was more inclined to be 
 worldly than Mary, yet Jesus loved them both. It 
 is a happy house when Jesus loves all that dwell in it. 
 Surely it is next door to heaven. 
 
 The message of Martha and Mary to Christ (John 
 ii. 3,) teaches you to carry all your temporal as well 
 
PRIVATE CORRESrOXDEXCE. 235 
 
 as your spiritual troubles to his feet. Leave them 
 there. Carry one another's case to Jesus. Is it not 
 a wonderful grace in God to have given yow peace in 
 Ch?'ist, hefove laying you down on your long sick-bed. 
 It would have been a wearisome being if you had 
 been an enemy to God, and then it would have been 
 over hell. Do you feel Rom. v. 3, to be true in your 
 experience .^ You cannot love trouble for its own 
 sake; bitter must always be bitter, and pain must 
 always be pain. God knows you cannot love trouble. 
 Yet for the blessings that it brings, he can make you 
 pray for it. Does trouble work patience in you? 
 Does it lead you to cling closer to the Lord Jesus — 
 to hide deeper in the rock? Does it make you ^'be 
 still and know that he is God ?'^ Does it make you 
 lie passive in his hand, and know no will but His? 
 Thus does patience work experience — an experimen- 
 tal acquaintance with Jesus? Does it bring you a 
 fuller taste of his sweetness, so that you know whom 
 you have believed ? And does this experience give 
 you a further hope of glory — another anchor cast 
 within the veil? And does this hope give you a heart 
 that cannot be ashamed, because convinced that 
 God has loved you, and will love you to the end? 
 Ah ! then you have got the improvement of trouble, 
 if it has led you thus. Pray for me still, that I may 
 get the good of all God's dealings with me. Lean ail 
 on Jesus. Pray for a time of the pouring out of God's 
 Spirit, that many more may be saved. I hope the 
 Lord's work is not done in this place yet. Ever 
 your allectionate pastor, kc. 
 
 TO A SOUL WH03I HE HAD ^-EVER SEEN, BUT WHOSE CASE 
 AVAS LAID BEFORE HIM BY A FRIEND. 
 
 C0I03. ii. 1, 2. 
 
 Locking out to Jesus. 
 
 March 20M, 1840. 
 
 My Dear Friexd, — I do not even know your name, 
 but I think I know somethinff of the state of vour 
 
236 PRIVATE CORRESPO^^DENCE. ' 
 
 sonl. Your friend has been with me, and told me 
 a little of your mind; and I write a few lines just to 
 bid you look to Jesus and live. Look at Numbers 
 xxi. 9, and you will see your disease and your remedy. 
 You have been bitten by the great serpent. The 
 poison of sin is through and through your whole 
 heart, but Christ has been lifted up on the cross that 
 you may look and live. Now, do not look so long 
 and so harassingly at your own heart and feelings. 
 What will you find there but the bite of the serpent? 
 You were shapen in iniquity, and the whole of your 
 natural life has been spent in sin. The more God 
 opens your eyes, the more you will feel that you are 
 lost in yourself. This is your disease. Now for the 
 remedy. Look to Christ; for the glorious Son of 
 God so loved lost souls, that he took on him a body 
 and died for us — bore our curse, and obeyed the law 
 in our place. Look to him and live. You need no 
 preparation, you need no endeavours, you need no 
 duties, you need no strivings, you only need to look 
 and live. Look at John xvii. 3. The way to be 
 saved is to know God's heart and the heart of Jesus. 
 To he aivakened, you need to know your own heart. 
 Look in at your own heart, if you wish to know your 
 lost condition. See the pollution that is there — for- 
 getfulness of God, deadness, insensibility to his love. 
 If you are judged as you are in yourself, you will be 
 lost. To be saved, you need to know the heart of 
 God and of Christ. The four gospels are a narrative 
 of the heart of Christ. They show liis compassion to 
 sinners and his glorious work in their stead. If you 
 only knew that heart as it is, you would lay your 
 weary head with John on his bosom. Do not take 
 up your time so much with studying your own heart 
 as with studying Clunsfs heart. " For one look at 
 yourself, take ten looks at Christ !" 
 
 Look at Romans xv. 13. That is my prayer for 
 you. You are looking for peace in stinving^ox peace 
 in duties, or peace in reforming your mind ; but ah ! 
 look at his word. *^ The God of hope fill you with all 
 joy diW^ peace in believing.'' All your peace is to be 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 237 
 
 found in believing GocVs ivord about his Son. If for 
 a moment you forget yonr own case altogether, and 
 meditate on the glorious way of salvation by Chi^ist 
 for us, does your bosom never glow with a ray of 
 peace? Keep that peace; it is joy in believing. 
 Look as straight to Christ as you sometimes do at the 
 rising or setting sun. Look direct to Christ. 
 
 You fear that your convictions of sin have not been 
 deep enough. This is no reason for keeping away 
 from Christ. You will never get a truly broken heart 
 till you are really in Christ. See Ezekiel xxxvi. 25-31. 
 Observe the order : Fii^st, God sprinkles clean water 
 on the soul. This represents our being washed in 
 the blood of Christ. Then he gives "anew heart 
 also.^' Thirdly, he gives a piercing remembrance of 
 past sins. Now, may the Lord give you all these ! 
 May you be brought as you are to the blood of the 
 Lamb! Washed and justified, may he change your 
 heart — give you a tender heart, and his Holy Spirit 
 within your heart ; and thus may he give you a bro- 
 ken heart for your past sins. 
 
 Look at Romans v. 1 9. By the sin of Adam, many 
 were made sinners. We had no hand in Adam's sin, 
 and yet the guilt of it comes upon us. W^e did not put 
 out our hand to the fruit, and yet the sin and misery 
 have been laid at our door. In the same way, " by 
 the obedience of Christ, many are made righteous." 
 Christ is the glorious One who stood for many. His 
 perfect garment is sufficient to cover you. You had 
 no hand in his obedience. You were not alive when 
 he came into the world and lived and died; and yet, 
 in his perfect obedience, you may stand before God 
 righteous. This is all my covering in the sight of a 
 holy God. I feel infinitely ungodly in myself- — in 
 God's eye, like a serpent or a toad — and yet, when I 
 stand in Christ alone, I feel that God sees no sin in 
 me, and loves me freely. The same righteousness is 
 free to you. It will be as white and clean on your 
 soul as on mine. do not sleep another night without 
 it I Only consent to stand in Christ, not in your poor 
 self 
 
238 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 I must not weary you. One word more. Look at 
 Rev. xxii. 17. Sweet, sweet words. ''Whosoever 
 will, let him take of the water of life freely." The 
 last invitation in the Bible, and the freest — Christ's 
 parting word to a world of sinners. Any one that 
 pleases may take this glorious way of salvation. Can 
 you refuse it ? I am sure you cannot. Dear friend, 
 be persuaded by a fellow-worm not to put off another 
 moment. Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away 
 the sins of the world. 
 
 You are sitting, like Hagar, within reach of the 
 w^ell. May the Lord open your eyes, and show you 
 all that is in Christ. I pray for you, that you may 
 spiritually see Jesus, and be glad — that you may 
 go to him and find rest. Farewell. Yours in the 
 Lord, &c. 
 
 REV. M\ C. BURXS. 
 
 A minister's afflictions to be improved. 
 
 June IQth, 1840. 
 
 Mr Dear Brother, — I am truly thankful that you 
 have been raised up again — renewed, I trust, both in 
 the inner and outer man. " I will cause you to pass 
 under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of 
 the covenant." Sweet rod that drives the soul into 
 such a precious resting place ! " I will visit their 
 iniquity with stripes; nevertheless my loving kindness 
 I will not take from him." This lias been the ex- 
 perience of the greater part of my life, at least of 
 my spiritual life. Remember Edwards' magnificent 
 resolution, '' Resolved to improve afflictions to the 
 uttermost." Spread the sail when the breeze of ad- 
 versity blows, and let it drive your vessel onwards on 
 its course. 
 
 When I was laid aside from the ministry, I felt it 
 was to teach me the need of prayer for my people. 
 I used often to say, now God is teaching me the use 
 of prayer. I thought I would never forget the lesson, 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 239 
 
 yet I fear I am grown slack again when in the midst 
 of my work. 
 
 AU these remarks I have transferred to myself 
 that you may learn in me the same things. Exhort 
 one another daily. My object in writing now, is to 
 say that I have engaged to be at CoUessie next Wed- 
 nesday, at Alloa on Thursday, and at Errol on Sab- 
 bath week. Now the people here were disappointed 
 by your not appearing lately; and it would be very 
 gratifying, if you are not better engaged, if the Lord 
 would direct your steps towards us. If you would 
 take both Thursday and the Sabbath it would be 
 pleasant to me. I have been weakened a little by 
 the hard labours of the Assembly, but I trust to re- 
 cruit shortly for our glorious warfare. I feel there 
 are two things it is impossible to desire with sufficient 
 ardour — personal holiness, and the honour of Christ 
 in the salvation of souls. 
 
 The Lord give you both more than he has given 
 me, and may he send you to us, if it be his will. Send 
 me a line quickly, and believe me, ever yours in sweet 
 bonds, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. DAN. EDWARDS, 
 
 Before his ordination as missionary to the Jews — What he must seek. 
 
 Dundee, June 15th^ 1840. 
 Mr Dear Frie.nd— * * * 
 
 * * * The grand matter of study, 
 
 however, must still be Divinity — a knowledge of 
 divine things, a spiritual discernment of the way of 
 pardon for the chief of sinners. I feel that the best 
 of ministers are but babes in this. Pray for more 
 knowledge of your own heart — of the total depravity 
 of it — of the awful depths of corruption that are there. 
 Pray for glorious discoveries of Christ — his person, 
 beauty, work, and peace. But I need not tell you 
 these things, only I feel persuaded that God will put 
 all natural and literary qualifications in the dust, if 
 there be not the simple exhibition of Christ for us, in 
 the preaching of our missionaries. Yours, &,c. 
 
240 PRIVATE CORRESPOXDEXCE. 
 
 TO THE SA3rE. 
 Holiness and success. 
 
 Dundee, October 2d, 1840. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I trust you will liave a pleasant 
 and profitable time in Germany. I know you will 
 apply hard to German; but do not forget the culture 
 of the inner man — I mean of the heart. "^How diligent- 
 ly the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; 
 every stain he rubs oft' with the greatest care. Re- 
 member you are God's sword — his instrument — I 
 trust a chosen vessel unto him to bear his name. In 
 great measure, according to the purity and perfection 
 of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great 
 talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. 
 A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of 
 God. I am now almost well, but have not yet got my 
 full strength. We had a sweet night last night, 
 though there was no external movement. Some 
 waited after ; one from St. Andrews, awakened deep- 
 ly, she knows not how. God is still working here, 
 and I look for far greater things. I am very anxious 
 to know how I could do more good to many people 
 and to the whole world — and not to know only, but 
 to do it. It is our truest happiness to live entirely for 
 the glory of Christ — to separate between *' P' and 
 " the glory of Christ." We are always saying, what 
 have / done ? was it 7ni/ preaching — mi/ sermon — 
 m?/ influence ? whereas we should be asking, what 
 hath God wrought ? Strange mixed beings we are ! 
 How sweet it will be to drop our old man, and be 
 pure as Christ is pure. I hope you will come and see 
 us again before your departure for your mission 
 station. The Lord direct all your steps, comfort your 
 heart, and stablish you in every good word and work, 
 to do his will. 
 
 Yours, &.C. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 241 
 
 TO MRS. TIIAIX, HEATH PARK. 
 
 When invited to rest a while. 
 
 Dundee, June 1840. 
 My Dear Mrs. T. — You know how glad I would 
 be of some such retreat as Elijah had by the brook 
 Cherith, where I might learn more of my own heart, 
 and of my Bible, and of my God; where I might 
 while away the summer hours in quiet meditation, or 
 talking of his righteousness all the day long. But it 
 is only said of the dead in the Lord that they rest 
 from their labours ; and I fear I must not think of 
 resting till then. Time is short, my time especially, 
 and souls are precious; and I fear many are slumber- 
 ing because I watch not with sufficient diligence, nor 
 blow the trumpet with sufficient clearness. 
 
 I have to be away so much on business, that I feel 
 I dare not be away on pleasure only — at least at pre- 
 sent. I rather think I must be in Ireland next week, 
 at the Synod of Ulster, which prevents me coming to 
 Mr. Macdonald's communion. 
 
 There is some request as to another communion in 
 St. Peter's also, which I shall be glad to see carried 
 into effect, provided it be done with all the heart of 
 the Lord's children. In these circumstances you must 
 not think me neglectful of your kindness if I put off 
 my visit to you a Uttle longer. 
 
 I trust that you are keeping strong, and able to 
 enjoy the open air, and that your souls all prosper — 
 that you have often such times as Jacob had at Ma- 
 hanaim, when the angels of God met him — or such 
 times as that at Peniel, when God had to cry out, 
 " Let me go, for the day breaketh." Alas, we do not 
 weary God now with our wrestlings, but with our sins. 
 The dark clouds gather, and the Church and we should 
 all be entering into our chambers, and shutting our 
 doors upon us. " In that day sing ye unto her, A vine- 
 yard of red wine." His song will be with us in the 
 dark night. May you and yours be hid in the day of 
 the Lord's anger. A smile of his can lighten up a 
 thunder-cloud. 
 
 21 
 
242 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Read the xxix. Psalm, and meditate on the last 
 verse. Live near to God, and so all things will appear 
 to you little in comparison with eternal realities. 
 Ever yours &c. 
 
 TO A STRANGER. 
 
 Intended to lead on one whose face was Zionward, but who was not fully decided. 
 
 Dundee, July 1840. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I do not even know your name, 
 but your cousin has been telling me about your case, 
 and wishes me to write you a line inviting you to lay 
 hold on Jesus Christ, the only refuge for a perishing 
 soul. You seem to have been thinking seriously of 
 your soul for some time. Do remember the words of 
 Peter (2 Peter i. 10), " Give diligence to make your 
 calling and election sure." Never rest till you can 
 say what John says (1 John v. 19), " We know that 
 we are of God." The world always loves to believe 
 that it is impossible to know that we are converted. 
 If you ask them, they will say, " I am not sure — I can- 
 not tell :" but the whole Bible declares we may re- 
 ceive, and know we have received, the forgiveness 
 of sins. See Psalm xxxii. 1 ; 1 John ii. 12. Seek 
 this blessedness — the joy of having forgiveness; it is 
 sweeter than honey and the honey-comb. But where 
 shall I seek it ? In Jesus Christ.' " God hath given 
 to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." '^ He 
 that hath the Son, hath life, and he that hath not the 
 Son, hath not life," 1 John v. 10. Get deeply ac- 
 quainted with yourself, your sins and misery. Most 
 people are like the Laodiceans, Rev. iii. 17. Even 
 those that are most deeply concerned about their souls 
 do not see the millionth part of the blackness of their 
 hearts and hves. 0! if we could but put our sins 
 where God puts them, Psalm xc. S, how we would cry 
 out, Unclean, unclean! Wo is me, for I am undone ! 
 Have you ever discovered your lost condition ? Many 
 know that they are great sinners, but where God is 
 teaching he will make you feel as an undone sinner. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 243 
 
 Have you felt this? What things were gain to yon. 
 those do you count loss for Christ? Do you know 
 that no human righteousness can cover you ? In his 
 holy, pure sight, all our righteousnesses are as filthy 
 rags, Isaiah Ixiv. 6. If you have been convinced of 
 sin, have you been convinced of righteousness? John 
 xvi. S. Have you heard the voice of Jesus knocking 
 at the door of your heart ? Have you opened the door 
 and let him in ? Awfully momentous question ! Your 
 eternity depends upon the answer — yes or no. " He 
 that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the 
 Son hath not life.'' ! what a simple thing the 
 Gospel is ! How fearful to think it is hid from so 
 many, 2 Corinth, iv. 3, 4. Jesus stands at your door 
 willing to be your shield. Psalm Ixxxiv. 9, 11 — your 
 righteousness, Jer. xxiii. 6 — your all in all. Now, 
 then, throw open the door and let him in. Accept 
 his white raiment that you may be clothed. And 
 
 ! remember, if Christ justifies you he will sanctify 
 you. He will not save you and leave you in your 
 sins. Why did he get the name Jesus? Mat. i. 21. 
 Here is a prayer for every one that has been found of 
 Christ ; " Order my steps in thy word, and let not any 
 iniquity have dominion over me." Psa. cxix. 133. 
 If you are redeemed, you are not your own — not the 
 world's — not Satan's. Think of this when you are 
 tempted to sin. Now, did I not say well that you 
 should make your calling and election sure ? 0, 
 beware of being a hypocrite — a mere professor, with 
 an unholy heart and life. That your sister is on the 
 road to Zion, I am glad, and pray that you may go 
 hand in hand. Be diligent — the time is short. Try 
 and persuade your friends to go with you. It is an 
 awful thing to separate at the throne of Christ, for 
 that will be for eternity. Pray much for the Holy 
 Spirit to open your eyes — to soften your heart — to 
 make Christ lovely and precious — to come and dwell 
 in your hearts, and fit you for glory. Come to the 
 living stone, and you will be built up as living stones, 
 
 1 Peter ii. 4. 5. ! how sweet to be made living 
 stones in that glorious temple. Pray much in secret. 
 
244 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Pray for ministers, that we may speak the word 
 boldly. Christ is doing great things in our day, which 
 should make us wrestle at a throne of grace. that 
 the Lord that was pierced with many thorns might 
 soon be crowned with many crowns ! 
 
 Praying that you and your sister ma}" both be saved, 
 I am your friend in the gospel, &c. 
 
 TO 3IISS A. S. L. 
 
 The person and heart of Jesus — consolation to believers. 
 
 August 16, 1840. 
 My Dear Friend, — I fear I may not be able to see 
 you for a little time, and therefore think of sending 
 you a few hues to minister a httle of the peace and 
 grace of the Lord Jesus to you. I hear that you are 
 worse in lieaUh than when I saw you; still I have no 
 doubt you can say, " It is well," " He doeth all things 
 well.^' You remember Jacob said, when they wanted 
 to take Benjamin away from him, " All these things 
 are against me." Gen. xlii. 36. But in a little while 
 he saw that all these things were working together 
 for good to him. In a little while all his lost chil- 
 dren were restored to him, and he and his seed pre- 
 served from famine. So will it be with you. If at 
 any time unbelief steals over your heart — if you lose 
 sight of Jesus, our Passover sacrificed for us — if you 
 forget the hand of the all-tender gracious Father of 
 Jesus and of your soul — you will be crying out. All 
 these things are against me. But ah! how soon you 
 will find that every thing in your history, except sin, 
 has heen for you. Every wave of trouble has been 
 Avafting you to the sunny shores of a sinless eternity. 
 Only believe. Give unlimited credit to our God. 
 
 Think on Jesus when your mind wanders in searcli 
 of peace — think where he came from — from the bosom 
 of liis Father. He was fj^om the beginning. He is 
 the life — the life of all that truly live. He is that 
 eternal life which was with the Father. Let the 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 245 
 
 beams of the divinity of Jesus shine in upon your soul. 
 Think how he was manifested — God manifest in flesh 
 — to be a surety for sinners. Made sin for us, although 
 he knew no sin — made a curse for us. 0, if I could 
 declare him unto you, you might have fellowship with 
 apostles, and with the Father, and with his Son Jesus 
 Christ. These things will we write unto you, that your 
 joy may be full. Other joys do not fill the heart. But 
 to know the Lord Jesus as our surety, satisfies the 
 soul; it brings the soul unto rest under the eye of our 
 pardoning God. I met,* the other day, with a thought 
 which has filled my heart often since. It is intended 
 to explain that wonderful verse, John xiv. 18,1 will 
 not leave you orphans — I will come to you. Jesus, 
 at the right hand of the Father, is yet present with all 
 his younger brethren and sisters in this vale of weep- 
 ing. His human nature is at the right hand of God 
 upon the throne — a lamb as it had been slain. But his 
 divine nature is unlimited, fills all worlds, and is present 
 in every dwelling of every disciple in this world. His 
 divine nature thus brings in continual information to 
 his human heart of every thing that is going on in the 
 heart and history of his people; so that his human 
 heart beats towards us just as if he were sitting by 
 our side. Hence he cried to Saul, " Why persecutest 
 thou me?" 
 
 Dear friend, do you feel that Jesus is your surety 
 and elder brother ? Then remember that, by reason 
 of his real divinity, he is now by your bedside, 
 afllicted in all your afflictions, touched with a feeling 
 of your infirmities, and able to save you to the utter- 
 most. He is as really beside you as he was beside 
 Mary when she sat at his feet. Tell him all your 
 sorrows, all your doubts and anxieties. He has a 
 willing ear. 0, what a friend is Jesus, the sinner's 
 friend! What an open ear he has for all the wants, 
 doubts, difficulties of his people. He has an especial 
 care of his sick, weakly, and dying disciples. You 
 know how it is with a kind mother, even though a 
 
 * It was in a sermon by J. B. Patterson of Falkirk. 
 
 21^ 
 
246 PRIVATE CORRESPONDEXCE. 
 
 worldly person. In a time of danger she clasps her 
 children to her breast. In a time of health she may 
 often let them wander out of her sight, but in hours 
 of sickness she will watch beside their bed. Much 
 more will Jesus watch over you. 
 
 I trust you feel real desire after complete holiness. 
 This is the truest mark of being born again. It is a 
 mark that he has made us meet for the inheritance of 
 the saints in light. If a nobleman were to adopt a 
 beggar boy, he would not only feed and clothe him, 
 but educate him, and fit him to move in the sphere 
 intof which he was afterwards to be brought; and if 
 you saw this boy filled with a noble spirit, you would 
 say he is meet to be put among the children. So may 
 you be made meet for glory. The farmer does not 
 cut down his corn till it is ripe. So does the Lord 
 Jesus : He first ripens the soul, then gathers it into 
 his barn. It is far better to be with Christ than to be 
 in Christ. For you to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 
 Nevertheless, I trust God will keep you a little longer 
 for our sake, that you may pray for us, and encourage 
 us to" work on in the service of Jesus till our change 
 come. I began this letter about two weeks ago, and 
 now send it away to you. I was called very sud- 
 denly to Edinburgh, and then sent to the north, and 
 am just returned again, so that I did not get it sent 
 away. I will try and see you this week, if it be the 
 will of God. However, you must not be disappointed 
 if I am prevented. I pray for you, that, according as 
 your day is, so your strength may be. Keep your 
 eye upon Jesus and the unsearchable riches that are 
 in him; and may the gentle Comforter fill your soul, 
 and give you a sweet foretaste of the glory that is to 
 follow. May he leave his deep eternal impress upon 
 your soul, not healing you and going away, but alDid- 
 ing within you, keeping the image of Christ in your 
 heart, ever "fresh and full—Christ in you the hope of 
 glory. The Comforter is able to fill you with calm- 
 ness in the stormiest hour. May he fill your whole 
 soul and transform you into a child of light. Goodbye 
 till we meet, if it be the Lord's will ; if not in this 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 247 
 
 world, at least before the throne, casting our crowns at 
 his feet. Ever yours in the gospel, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. W. C. BURNS. 
 
 Awakenings — Personal holiness in ministers. 
 
 Du.NDEE, September, 1840. 
 
 My Dear Brother, — I have had a severe illness or 
 would have answered your kind note long before this. 
 I fear you may have left Breadalbane before this can 
 reach it; still I write in hope. You may be sure I 
 ever follow you with my prayers and earnest longings 
 of heart that God may humble, purify, and make use 
 of you to carry glad tidings of great joy to the inmost 
 hearts of poor, guilty, perishing sinners, wherever you 
 go. I have been much interested by all that I have 
 heard of the good that has attended you in the north. 
 I long to hear still more. The very name of Moulin 
 stirs up the inmost depths of the heart when I remem- 
 ber what great things the Lord Jesus did there of old. 
 Do write to me when you have a moment, and stir 
 me up. You know a word to a minister is worth a 
 word to three or four thousand souls sometimes. No- 
 thing stirs me up so much to be instant and faithful 
 as hearing of the triumphs of the Lord Jesus in other 
 places. I am glad and thankful to say that we are 
 not left quite desolate. There have been evident 
 tokens of the presence of the Spirit of God among my 
 dear people many nights — more I think upon the 
 Thursday nights than on the Sabbaths. Some I have 
 met with seemingly awakened without any very direct 
 means. A good number of young mill-girls are still 
 weeping after the Lord Jesus. I have been out of my 
 pulpit only one Sabbath, and I hope to be back to it 
 next Sabbath, if the Lord will. 
 
 What Mr. T. mentioned to you was true, of some 
 having followed after an enthusiastic kind of man, who 
 in my absence came among them. Doubtless Satan 
 wanted to carry off some of the sheep, and succeeded 
 
248 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 SO far. Still, I trust, it will end in good. Some have 
 been a good deal humbled in the dust on account of 
 it, and I have been roused up to cry for more know- 
 ledge how to guide them in the right way. I think, 
 if strength were restored to me, I will try, in name 
 of the Lord Jesus, to catechize through my parish. 
 I ask your advice and prayers on this. If it could be 
 conducted humbly, and with patience, and aptness to 
 teach, I am persuaded it would tend to ground them 
 more deeply in divine things. Hypocrites also might 
 be denounced and warned, and the unconverted point- 
 edly dealt with. I feel the immense difficulty of it in 
 a town, and such a neglected, ignorant one as this. 
 Still, if God be with me, who can be against me? 
 
 Every thing I meet with, and every day I study 
 my Bible, makes me pray more that God would 
 begin and carry on a deep, pure, wide-spread, and 
 permanent work of God in Scotland. If it be not 
 ^eep and pure, it will only end in confusion, and 
 grieving away the Holy Spirit of God by irregularities 
 and inconsistencies. Christ will not get glory, and 
 the country generally will be hardened and have their 
 mouths filled with reproaches. If it be not ivide- 
 spread, our God \y\\\ not get a large crown out of this 
 generation. If it be not permanent, that will prove 
 its impurity, and will turn all our hopes into shame. 
 I am much more afraid of Satan than I used to be. 
 I learned a good deal by being with Gumming in 
 Strathbosie. 
 
 I am also deepened in my conviction, that if we arc 
 to be instruments in such a work, we must be purified 
 from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. 0, cry for 
 personal holiness, constant nearness to God, by the 
 blood of the Lamb. Bask in his beams — lie back in 
 the arms of love — be filled with His spirit — or all suc- 
 cess in the ministry will only be to your own ever- 
 lasting confusion. 
 
 You know how I have always insisted on this with 
 you. It is because I feel the need thereof myself. 
 Take heed, dear friend ; do not think any sin trivial ; 
 remember it will have everlasting consequences. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 249 
 
 10 have Brainerd's heart for perfect holiness — to be 
 holy as God is holy — pure as Christ is pure — perfect 
 as onr Father in heaven is perfect. ! what a 
 cursed body of sin we bear, that we should be obliged 
 by it to break these sweet gospel rules ! How much 
 more useful might we be, if we were only more free 
 from pride, self-conceit, personal vanity, or some 
 secret sin that our heart knows. ! hateful sins, 
 that destroy oi^ peace, and ruin souls ! 
 
 But I must be done. 1 have not attained the full 
 use of the pen. Go on, dear brother; but an inch of 
 time remains, and then eternal ages roll on for ever — 
 but an inch on which we can stand and preach the 
 way of salvation to a perishing world. May he 
 count us faithful, keeping us in the ministry. Ever 
 3^0 urs, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. PATRICK L. MILLER, 
 
 Then labouring in Strahtbogie; on his bjing elected minister of Wallacetown. 
 
 Dundee, Sept. 18, 1840. 
 My Dear Friend, — I cannot tell you how sincerely 
 I thank God for the event of this evening. You are 
 unanimously chosen minister of Wallacetown. I have 
 already been on my knees to praise God for it, and 
 to pray that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit 
 for this glorious work. I hope you will see your way 
 clear in leaving your attached people at Botriphnie. 
 Make good use of your last days among them. Warn 
 every man. Take each aside, and tell him you will be 
 a witness against him at the last day if he do not 
 turn and obey the gospel. The Lord give you a 
 spiritual family in that place ; and may you come to 
 us in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 
 I am persuaded the Spirit of God is still remarkably 
 present in this town. You could not become a min- 
 ister in a more blessed season, or in a more promising 
 field. pray to be fitted for the arduous work. I 
 was just praying this morning over Matt. ix. 36-38, 
 
250 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 « 
 and little thinking that God was about to answer so 
 graciously. 
 
 I have had a severe illness of late, and been taught 
 to look more toward the Church above. But I am 
 better, and my heart warms again towards the Lord's 
 work below. Now, farewell ! The Lord humble, 
 empty, satisfy, and fill you — make you a Boanerges 
 and a Barnabas, all in one. May the Lord arise and 
 his enemies be scattered ; and may poor parched 
 Angus become like the garden of the Lord. Ever 
 yours, &c. 
 
 TO MR. GEORGE SHAW, BELFAST. 
 
 Prophechies concerning Israel — Revival — Conduct of studies. 
 
 Dundee, September \%t}i, 1840. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — It gives me great joy to be able 
 to answer your kind letter, although I fear you have 
 almost despaired of me. In writing your esteemed 
 pastor, I mentioned to him my intention of writing 
 you very soon; but I have since then been laid down 
 upon a sick bed by a severe feverish illness, from 
 which I am now only recovering. Like you, my dear 
 friend, God has seen it meet to train me often by the 
 rod, and I have always found that he doeth all things 
 well. Indeed, who would have his own health in his 
 own guidance! Ah! how much better to be in his 
 all-wise, all-powerful hand, who has redeemed us, 
 and is making us vessels to liold his praise, now and 
 in eternal ages. I have been only twice in the open 
 air, and cannot yet manage the pen with facility; but 
 I cannot delay writing to you any longer. You can- 
 not tell how much real joy your letter gave me when 
 you tell me of the dear brethren who meet along with 
 you on Monday mornings, to read and pray concern- 
 ing Israel. This is, indeed, a delightful fruit of my 
 short visit among you, for which I give humble and 
 hearty thanks to Him who has stirred up your hearts 
 in what I have felt, by experience, to be his own 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 251 
 
 blessed cause. I feel deeply persuaded, from prophe- 
 cy, that it will always be difficult to stir up and main- 
 tain a warm and holy interest in outcast Israel. The 
 lovers and pleaders of Zion's canse will, I believe, be 
 always few. Do you not think this is hinted at in 
 Jer. XXX. 13? "There is none to plead thy cause 
 that thou mayest be bound up." And again, ver. 14, 
 "All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee 
 not." And is not this one of the very reasons why 
 God will at last take itp their cause? See ver. 17, "I 
 will restore health unto thee, because they called thee 
 an outcast, saying, This is Zion whom no man seek- 
 eth after." It is a sweet encouragement also to learn, 
 that, though the friends of Zion will probably be few, 
 so that it may almost be said no one seeketh after her, 
 yet there always will be some who will keep watch 
 over the dust of Jerusalem, and plead the cause of 
 Israel with God and with man. See Isa. Ixii. 6, 7. 
 If any of your company know the Hebrew, you will 
 see at once the true rendering, " I have set watchmen 
 over thy walls, Jerusalem, which shall never hold 
 their peace day nor night. Ye that are the Lord's 
 remembrancerskeep not silence, and give him no rest 
 till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise 
 in the earth." ! my dear brethren, into whose 
 hearts I trust God is pouring a scriptural love for 
 Israel, what an honour is it for us, worms of the dust, 
 to be made watchmen by God over the ruined walls 
 of Jerusalem, and to be made the Lord's remembran- 
 cers, to call his own promises to his mind that he 
 would fulfil them, and make Jerusalem a blessing to 
 the whole world! V^erse 1st is supposed to be the 
 language of our Lord himself, our glorious advocate 
 with the Father. what an example does he set us 
 of unwearied intercession! Verse 2d showeth the 
 great effect which the conversion of Israel will have 
 on the Gentile world. Verse 3d shows how converted 
 Israel will be a glorious diadem in God's hand, held 
 out to show forth his praise. Verse 4th shows that it 
 is literal Israel that is spoken of, for there is a sweet 
 promise to their land. 
 
252 PRIVATE CORRESPOXDENCE. 
 
 I think you must take these two verses, 6, 7, as the 
 motto of your praying society, not in boasting, but in 
 all humility of mind, and with much self-upbraiding 
 for the neglect of the past. Indeed, you will find it a 
 difficult matter to keep your heart in tune really to 
 desire the salvation of Israel, and the widely extended 
 glory of the Lord Jesus. You must keep in close 
 union to Jesus, and much in the love of God, and be 
 much filled with the infinite, all-mighty Spirit of God. 
 He will help your infirmities. It is when you feel 
 the sweetness of the kingdom of God within you, that 
 you will truly fall down on your knees and pray, 
 " Thy kingdom come.'^ The possession of grace fills 
 us with very difierent feelings from the possession of 
 anything else. A man who has much money is not 
 very anxious that all the world should be rich — one 
 who has much learning does not long that all the 
 world were learned; but if you have tasted the grace 
 of the gospel, the irresistible longing of your hearts 
 will be, that all the world might taste its regenera- 
 ting waters! And if it be true, as I think it is, that 
 God's method of bringing in the kingdom is to be by 
 the salvation of Israel, how can an enlightened, gra- 
 cious soul but pray, "Do good in thy good pleasure 
 unto Zion?'*^ 
 
 As to the mode of studying prophecy, dear friend, 
 I am far from being a capable adviser. My advice, 
 however, is, that you begin with the simple and more 
 unquestioned parts, and then advance to the more 
 difficult ground. Begin with fulfilled prophecy — you 
 Avill thus gain an intimate acquaintance with the lan- 
 guage and manner of the prophetic writings. Then 
 advance to the marks of unfulfilled prophecy, and 
 cautiously and prayerfully to those parts that are ob- 
 viously unfulfilled. This would be a most interesting 
 course, and, if humbly followed out, cannot but give 
 you great light and interest in the cause of Israel, and 
 the world's conversion. For fulfilled prophecy, you 
 might follow the guidance of Keith on Fulfilled Pro- 
 phecy, or Bishop Newton, or both. 
 
 I am delighted to hear of the thank-offering you 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 053 
 
 mention. It is sweet when thankfulness does not end 
 in mere words, but in gifts to God and devjotedness 
 of our all to Him. I am happy to say that the Lord's 
 cause seems still to advance in Scotland. On the 
 very day I arrived from Ireland we had very sweet 
 tokens of the presence of the Spirit of God in the con- 
 gregation, and many Thursday evenings since. 
 
 I have been in Strathbogie also, and seen some of 
 the Lord's wonders there. He that hath the key of 
 David has opened the door there, for the salvation of 
 many souls. I am still as anxious as ever that God's 
 work should be pure, and unmixed with error and 
 Satanic delusions; and, therefore, when I pray for the 
 revival of God's work, I always add that it may be 
 pure and permanent. I have seen two awakened 
 since I came home, with the use of hardly any means. 
 If they shall turn out real conversions, I think I shall 
 never despair of any. 
 
 I trust that your own studies get on well, dear 
 friend. Learn much of 3^our own heart, and when 
 you have learned all you can, remember you have 
 seen but a few yards into a pit that is unfathomable. 
 Jer. xvii. 9 : " The heart is deceitful above all things, 
 and desperately wicked: who can know it ?" Learn 
 much of the Lord Jesus. For every look at yourself, 
 take ten looks at Christ. He is altogether lovely. 
 Such infinite majesty, and yet such meekness and 
 grace, and all for sinners, even the chief. Live much 
 in the smiles of God. Bask in his beams. Feel his 
 all-seeing eye settled on you in love, and repose in his 
 almighty arms. Cry after divine knowledge, and lift 
 up your voice for understanding. Seek her as silver, 
 and search for her as for hid treasure, according to 
 the word in Prov. ii. 4. See that ver. 10 be fulfilled in 
 you. Let wisdom enter into your heart and know- 
 ledge be pleasant to thy soul; so you will be delivered 
 from the snares mentioned in the following verses. 
 Let your soul be filled with a heart-ravishing sense of 
 the sweetness and excellency of Christ, and of all that 
 is in Him. Let the Holy Spirit fill every chamber of 
 your heart; and so there will be no room for folly, 
 
 22 
 
254 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 or the world, or Satan, or the flesh. I mnst now com- 
 mend you all to God and the word of his grace. My 
 dear people are just assembled for worship. Alas! I 
 cannot preach to them to-night. I can only carry 
 them and you on my heart to the throne of grace. 
 Write me soon. Ever yours, &.c. 
 
 TO HIS SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHERS, DURING A WEEK OF 
 
 ABSENCE FROM THE3I, 
 
 (Accompanied by notes on the Scripture Lesson that was to be taught in the 
 
 classes that week.) 
 
 Kelso, Feb. ^ith, 1841. 
 
 My Dear Friends and Fellow-Labourers, — I send 
 you a few notes on the parable for next Sabbath 
 evening. May you find them profitable. You can- 
 not tell what a sweet comfort it is to me, when I am 
 so far distant from my flock, to know that you are 
 in the midst of the lambs, speaking to God for them, 
 and speaking to them for God. I thank my God 
 without ceasing for your work of faith, and labour of 
 love, and patience of hope. Be not weary in well 
 doing, dear friends, for in due season we shall reap, if 
 we faint not. Do not be impatient — wait on the 
 Lord. The blessing will come. Use a few spare half 
 hours in seeking after the lambs on the week-days. 
 This will prove to the parents that you are in earnest. 
 To bring one child to the bosom of Christ would be 
 a reward for all our pains in eternity. ! with what 
 glowing hearts we shall meet in heaven those whom 
 God has used us as humble instruments in saving I 
 Meditate on Phil. i. 8. And may the Lord meet with 
 you and the lambs on Sabbath-day, and bless you, 
 and do you good. 
 
 Farewell, dear fellow-labourers. Ever your aftec- 
 tionate friend and pastor, absent in body, not in spirit, 
 &c. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 255 
 
 TO A SOCIETY IN BLAIRGOWRIE FOR DIFFUSI>'^G THE 
 KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH. 
 
 Advices. 
 
 Dundee, March 27th, 1841. 
 My Dear Friend, — I was happy indeed to receive 
 your letter, and the Rules of your Society, which in- 
 terested me very much. I would have answered you 
 sooner, but have been laid down by my heavenly 
 Father on a bed of sickness, from which I am just re- 
 covering by his grace. Spared fig-trees should bear 
 much fruit ; pray that it may be so with me. Luther 
 used to say that " te??i2Jtations,affliclio}is,B.ndprai/er) 
 made a minister." I do trust that your society may 
 be greatly blessed, Jirst, in the comforting, enlivening 
 and sanctifying of your own souls, and then in the 
 bringing others to know the same fountain, where you 
 have found peace and purity. Let Jesus come into 
 your meetings and sit at the head of the table. It is 
 a fragrant room when the bundle of myrrh is the chief 
 thing there. Let there be no sh^ife among you, but 
 ivho to be lowest at his feet, tvho to lean their head 
 most fully on his breast. Let all your conversation, 
 meditations, and readings, lead you to the Lamb of 
 God. Satan would divert your minds away to ques- 
 tions and old wives' fables, which gender strifes. But 
 the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus — draws to Jesus — 
 makes you cleave to the Lord Jesus with full purpose 
 of heart. Seek advance of personal holiness. It is for 
 this the grace of God has appeared to you. See Titus, 
 ii. 11, 12. For this Jesus died — for this he chose you 
 — for this he converted you, to make you holy men, 
 living epistles of Christ — monuments of what God can 
 do in a sinner's heart. You know what true holiness 
 is. It is Christ in you the hope of glory. Let Him 
 dwell in you, and so all his features will shine in your 
 hearts and faces. ! to be like Jesus, this is hea- 
 ven wherever it be. I think I could be happy among 
 devils, if only the old man were slain in me, and I 
 was made altogether like Jesus. But, blessed be God, 
 
256 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 we shall not be called to such a trial, for we shall not 
 only be like Jesus, but be with Him to behold His 
 glory. Pray to be taught to pray. Do not be con- 
 tent with old forms that flow from the hps only. Most 
 Christians have need to cast tlieir formal prayers 
 away to be taught to cry, Abba. Arrange before- 
 hand what you are to pray for. Do not forget co)i- 
 fession of si?i, nor thanksgiving. Pray to get your 
 closed hps opened in intercession — embrace the whole 
 world and carry it within the veil. I think you might 
 with advantage keep a small book in which you might 
 mark down objects to be prayed for. I pray God" to 
 make you very useful in the parish and in the world. 
 Do all things without murmurings and disputings; 
 see Phil. ii. i4, 16. Live for eternity. A few days 
 more and our journey is done. ! fight hard against 
 sin and the devil — the devil never sleeps. Be you 
 also active for good. The Lord bless you and your 
 dear minister. Pray for us. Pray for the dead 
 parishes round you. Ever yours, &c. 
 
 LETTERS TO A SOUL SEEKING JESUS. NO. I. 
 
 Seek to know your corruption. 
 
 Dundee, 1841. 
 
 Dear Friend, — According to promise I sit down to 
 talk with you a little concerning the great things of 
 an eternal world. How kind it is in God that he has 
 given us such an easy way of communicating our 
 thoughts, even at a distance. My only reason for 
 writing to you is, that I may direct your soul to Jesus, 
 the sinner's friend. " This man receiveth sinners." 
 I would wish much to knoAV that you were truly united 
 to Christ, and then, come life, come death, you will 
 be truly and eternally happy. Do you think you 
 have been convinced of sin ? This is the Holy Spirit's 
 work, and his first work upon the soul (John xvi. 8; 
 Acts ii. 37; xxi. 29, 30.) If you did not know your 
 body was dangerously ill, you would never have sent 
 for your physician j and so you will never go to Christ, 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 257 
 
 the heavenly physician, unless you feel that your soul 
 is sick even unto death. ! pray for deep disco- 
 veries of your real state by nature, and by practice. 
 The world will say you are an innocent and harmless 
 girl ; do not believe them. The world is a liar. Pray 
 to see yourself exactly as God sees you ; pray to know 
 the worth of your soul. Have you seen yourself ^^Ve, 
 as Job saw himself? Job xi. 3, 5 ; xiii. 5, 6 — undone, 
 as Isaiah saw himself? Isa. vi. 1, 5. Have you ex- 
 perienced any thing like Psalm li. ? I do not wish 
 you to feign humility before God, nor to use expres- 
 sions of self abhorrence, which you do not feel ; but, 
 O pray that the Holy Spirit may let you see the very 
 reality of your natural condition before God. I seldom 
 get more than a glance at the true state of my soul 
 in its naked self. But, when I do, then I see that I 
 am wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and 
 naked; Rev. iii. 17. I believe every member of our 
 body has been a servant of sin — Romans iii. 13, 18 — ' 
 throat, tongue, lips, mouth, feet, eyes. Every faculty 
 of our mind is polluted ; Gen. vi. 5. Besides, you 
 have long neglected the great salvation ; you have 
 been gainsaying and disobedient. ! that you were 
 brought to pass sentence upon yourself, guilty of all. 
 Hear what a dear believer writes of himself — " My 
 wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to 
 me perfectly ineffable, and swallowing up all thought 
 and imagination, like an infinite deluge, or mountains 
 over my head. I know not how to express better 
 what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping 
 infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infi- 
 nite. When I look into my wickedness, it looks like 
 an abyss infinitely deep, and yet it seems to me that 
 my conviction of sin is exceedingly small and faint." 
 Perhaps you will ask, why do you wish me to have 
 such a discovery of my lost condition? I answer, that 
 you may be broken off from all schemes of self right- 
 eousness; that you may never look into your poor 
 guilty soul to recommend you to God ; and that you 
 may joyfully accept of the Lord Jesus Christ who 
 obeyed and died for sinners. ! that your heart 
 
 22* 
 
258 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 may cleave to Christ. May you forsake all and fol- 
 low Jesus Christ. Count everything loss for the ex- 
 cellency of the knowledge of Christ. You never will 
 stand righteous before God in yourself You are wel- 
 come this day to stand righteous before God in Jesus. 
 Pray over Phil. iii. 1, 9. I will try and pray for you, 
 Grace be with you. Your friend in Jesus, &.c. 
 
 TO THE SA3IE . N O. II. 
 
 Seek the righteousness of Christ. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I w^asglad to hear of your safe arrival, 
 and that your health had not suffered by the voyage. 
 I trust the Lord is dealing gently with your frail body, 
 so that your mind may get leave freely to fix itself on 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified. Above all, I pray 
 that the Holy Spirit may sweetly and silently open 
 your heart, to relish the way of salvation through the 
 blood and obedience of Immanuel. Through this 
 man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and 
 by Him all that believe are justified from all things; 
 Acts xiii. 38, 39. You would be deeply concerned to 
 
 hear that your room-mate has been so suddenly 
 
 and awfully called away. Should it not be a solemn 
 warning to you? 0! that you may be even now 
 clothed in the righteousness of Jesus ! so that, if you 
 were called away, you may meet God in peace, and 
 hear Jesus say, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 In yourself you never will stand righteous before 
 Jehovah. Psalm cxliii. 2, answers your case. ''En- 
 ter not into judgment with me," nuist be your cry. 
 In your nature, in your past life, in your breaking of 
 the holy law, in your contempt and neglect of Jesus, 
 in your indwelling sin, God can see nothing but what 
 he must condemn. ! that you would be of the same 
 mind with God about your own soul. Do not be 
 afraid to look upon its loathsomeness. For God offers 
 to clothe you in Jesus Christ. Romans v. 19. By the 
 obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE 359 
 
 There is only one m all the world on whose face 
 God can look and say " He is altogether lovely." 
 Jesus is that one. Now God is willing that you and 
 I should hide in Jesus. I feel at this moment that he 
 is my righteousness. Jer. xxiii. 6. This is his name 
 whereby he shall be called, "the Lord our righteous- 
 ness.'^ I feel that the love of God shines upon my 
 guilty soul through Jesus. This is all my peace. 
 Your tears will not blot out sin. They do nothing but 
 weep in hell, but that does not justify them; your 
 right views of the gospel will not justify you; you 
 must be covered with a spotless righteousness. Your 
 change of heart and of life will not justify you, it can- 
 not covev past sins — neither is it perfect. Your amend- 
 ed life is still fearfully sinful in Jehovah's sight, and 
 yet nothing but perfect righteousness can stand before 
 him. Jesus offers you this perfect righteousness ; in 
 him you may stand and hear God say, " Thou art all 
 fair, my love." There is no spot in him. Do you 
 thus look to Jesus? Do you believe the record that 
 God has given concerning him ? Do you receive 
 Christ with open arms? Do you cry, "My Lord and 
 my God," my surety, my all? Dear friend, do not 
 tarry. Eternity may be near. Noiv is your best 
 time, perhaps your only time, of closing with Christ. 
 How many worlds would a lost soul in hell give for 
 such an opportunity of cleaving to Christ as you have 
 now. "He that hath the Son, hath life." This is 
 all my prayer and desire for your precious, precious 
 soul. Ever yours in the gospel, &c. 
 
 TO THE SAME. NO. HI. 
 
 Joy in believing. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I send you another line to tell you 
 Jesus is the way. I would like much to hear how 
 your weak body prospers, and whether your soul is 
 resting under the apple tree (Song. ii. 3); but till 
 some opportunity occurs, I must just content myself 
 
260 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 with committing yom- soul and body into the hand of 
 Jesus, your faithful creator. 1 Peter iv. 19. We are 
 now looking forward to another communion season, 
 and I am busy instructing young persons for that holy 
 and blessed ordinance. I think you said you were a 
 good deal impressed at our last communion, and 
 wished that you had been one of those seated at the 
 table ; perhaps you may never be permitted to sit at 
 the table on earth ; perhaps your first communion 
 may be in glory. There is a text in Romans xv. 13, 
 which expresses all my desire for you, "Now the God 
 of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, 
 that you may abound in hope, through the poAver of 
 the Holy Ghost." You see here who is the author 
 of conversion — " The God of hope.'^ He must open 
 your heart to attend to the things that are spoken. 
 The truths that are presented to you will not convert 
 your heart; the God of hope must breathe on your 
 heart and water it oft. Then see how he gives you 
 joy and peace — "in believing." When Jesus revealed 
 himself to Thomas (John xx. 28), Thomas cried out 
 with joy, "My Lord and my God!" If Jesus reveal 
 himself to you in all the glory of his person — the 
 completeness of his work and the freeness of his love — 
 you too will be filled with appropriating joyful faith, 
 and will cry, "My Lord and my God!" It is a dif- 
 ficult thing to explain what it is to believe — I suppose 
 it is impossible. But when Jesus unveils his match- 
 less beauty, and gives you a sweet glimpse of his 
 matchless face that was buffeted and spit upon, then 
 the soul joyfully clings to him. This is believing, 
 and there is joy and peace in believing. The truest, 
 purest joy flows from a discovery of Jesus Christ. 
 He is the hidden treasure that gives such joy to the 
 finder. Matth. xiii. 44. Do you think that you have 
 found that treasure ? Touching question ! for if not, 
 you are poor indeed. But how much joy may you 
 have in Christ? "The God of hope Jill you with all 
 joy." You need not be afraid to take the full joy 
 that Jesus gives. If you really come mito Christ, you 
 come unto the love of Jehovah and that is a filling 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 261 
 
 love. The lov^e of the creature does not fill the heart, 
 but God's love coming full upon the soul gives fulness 
 of joy (1 John i. 4). It is holy love — sovereign love. 
 I have been interrupted several times in writing this 
 little note. I will not be long in writing you again. 
 Do decide the question of your eternity. One thing is 
 needful ; have you closed with the great Mediator ? 
 Have you got saving knowledge of Jesus ? Then 
 only will death lose its power, and the grave become 
 the bed of peaceful rest. 
 
 "There is a land of pure delight, 
 Where saints immortal reign ; 
 Infinite day excludes the night, 
 And pleasures banish pain." 
 
 Lean all your care for time and eternity on Jesus ; 
 that is the softest of all pillows — the bosom of our 
 guardian Immanuel. I am ever yours, &c. 
 
 TO THE SAM E. N O. I V. 
 
 Taste that Christ is precious. 
 
 December, 1841. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — It is written, " Unto you ivho 
 believe, he is j)Tecioiis^^ and if you are a child of God 
 you will know and feel what the words mean. 1 Peter 
 ii. 7. At one time Christ was "like a tender plant" to 
 you, and like " a root out of a dry ground." You 
 saw "no form nor comeliness in him, no beauty that 
 you should desire him." At that time you were at 
 ease in Zion — you had no concern for your soul. 
 Do you remember that time? Is it otherwise with 
 you now ? Have you been pricked in your heart by 
 the Holy Spirit ? Have you been made to see how 
 impossible it is for man to be just with God ? and 
 has the Spirit drawn away the veil from the fair face 
 of Immanuel, and given you an unfeigned glance at 
 the brow that was crowned with the thorns, and the 
 cheek from which they plucked off the hair? Has the 
 Spirit opened a window into the heart of Jesus, and 
 
262 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 let you see the fountain-head of that love that " pass- 
 eth knowledge?" Then you will be able to say, "To 
 me He is precious.^^ If you see plainly that all your 
 standing before God is in him, that he is your founda- 
 tion-stone — your fountain — your wedding garment, 
 then you will feel him to be precious. Most people 
 refuse to come to Christ. Read Luke xiv. 16, 24. 
 They all with one consent began to make excuse. 
 Why is this? Just because they do not see and feel 
 that he is precious. But, 0! if you, my dear friend, 
 feel that he is your only righteousness — your only 
 fountain of living water — your high priest — your 
 shepherd — your advocate; then you will say, ^' He is 
 precious.^^ You will never say, " Have me ex- 
 cused." I carry to you the sweet invitation, "Come, 
 for all things are now ready." Jesus is ready to 
 wash and clothe you in his own blood and right- 
 eousness. The Holy Spirit is ready to come into- 
 your heart and make it new. The Father is ready to 
 put his arms round your neck and kiss you. Luke 
 XV. 20. The angels are ready to give thanks for you, 
 and to love you as a sister for eternity. Now, will 
 you come, for all things are ready 7 Are you now 
 saying in your heart, "I cannot but believe I am the 
 chief of sinners, and Jesus offers to be my refuge, my 
 mediator, my all in all; I feel he is precious?" 
 dear friend, I trust you do. This only will make 
 you happy in living, and blessed in dying. This is a 
 poor dymg world. Man that is born of woman is of 
 few days and full of trouble. There is no part here 
 that death cannot take from us. But if you have 
 Christ, you have the only imperishable portion ! ! 
 may the Holy Spirit give you a firm hold of Jesus. 
 Then we shall meet in that sweet place where there 
 shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, 
 neither shall there be any more pain. The Lord 
 deal kindly and gently with you, both in soul and 
 body. Farewell, dear friend. 
 
 Ever yourS; &c. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 2G3 
 
 TO THE SAME. NO. V. 
 
 Be found in Christ. 
 
 December 8th, 1841. 
 
 Mr Dear Friend, — I send you another line to tell 
 you of Him who is altogether lovely. I have a very 
 dear boy in my parish, who is dying jast now. He 
 said to me the other day, " I have just been feeding 
 for some days upon the words you gave me, * His 
 legs are like pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine 
 gold' (Song V. 15); for (said he) I am sure he is able 
 to carry me and all my sins.' You may say the same, 
 if your eyes have been opened to see the beauty, ful- 
 ness, freeness, and compassion of the Lord Jesus. 
 Nothing but the hand of God can open your eyes to 
 see your lost condition as it truly is. Flesh and blood 
 cannot reveal him unto you, but my Father. 0! call 
 upon him to do this for you. A spiritual discovery of 
 yourself and of Jesus is better than a million of worlds 
 to you, and to me also. Remember, you cannot be 
 fair in yourself before God. Song i. 6, must be all 
 your prayer — " Look not upon me.^^ Take yourseli 
 at your best moments, you are but a vile worm in 
 Jehovah's sight, and so am I. Remember, you may 
 be "perfect in Christ Jesus." Allow yourself to be 
 found in Christ. ! what will come of you if you 
 are found in yourself? Where will you appear? 
 You will shrink back, and call on rocks and moun- 
 tains to fall upon you and cover you. But if you are 
 hiding in Jesus — if your eye and heart are fixed upon 
 his wounds made by our sins — if you are willing to 
 be righteous in his righteousness — to lie down under 
 the stream of his blood, and to be clothed upon with 
 the snowy fleece of the Lamb of God — then God will 
 love you with his whole soul exceedingly. The pure, 
 full love of God streams through the blood and obe- 
 dience of Jesus to every soul that is lying under them, 
 however vile and wretched in themselves. Have yoii 
 tried — have you tasted the holy love of a holy God. 
 Thy love is better than wine. It is better than all 
 
264 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 creatnre-love or creature-enjoyments. 0! do not live, 
 — 0! do not die, out of this sweet, sweet, sin-pardon- 
 ing, soul-comforting, love of God! Remember, Jesus 
 is quite willing to gather you under his wings. Mat. 
 xxiii. 37. Put that beyond all doubt. Remember 
 also, the present is your only time to be saved. Eccles. 
 ix. 10. There is no believing, no repenting, no con- 
 version in the grave — no minister will speak to you 
 there. This is the time of conversion. We must 
 either gain you now, or lose you for ever. 0! that 
 you would use this little time. Every moment of it 
 is worth a world. Your soul is very dear to me — 
 dearer far to Jesus. Look to him and you will be 
 saved. Ever yours, &c. 
 
 TO THE SA:iIE. ISO. VI. 
 
 Go up, leaning on Jesus. 
 
 I have heard of you from , and have been pray- 
 ing for you, that your eye may rest on Jesus, and that 
 your soul may lie in perfect peace under his blood 
 shed for the sins of many. I have been thanking my 
 Father, too, for dealing so bountifully with you. "He 
 is the Father of mercies, and the God of all comforts." 
 I will give you a sweet verse to meditate upon. "Who 
 is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning 
 upon the beloved?'' Song viii. 5. Do you think this 
 is your position? Truly this world is a wilderness if 
 you have seen it rightly. It is a place of guilt and 
 shame. Every natural heart is a wilderness — a dead 
 place without a drop of living water — and then all 
 natural hearts put together make up a wilderness 
 world. The whole world lieth in wickedness. There 
 are few that know and love Jesus, and these few are 
 panting to get more of the living water. But if you 
 have truly fled to Jesus, you are coming up from the 
 wilderness. Now is our salvation nearer than when 
 we believed. " The night is far spent, the day is at 
 hand." Have you found Jesus truly? Do you feel 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 265 
 
 willing to be all vile, all hell-deserving in yourself, 
 and to let God's dear Son be all your shield and right- 
 eousness? 0! make sure of this. Never mind what 
 man thinks of you. I would not give a straw for the 
 opinions of men as to whether I was safe or no. It 
 is not what man thinks of us that will cover us in the 
 judgment-day. no! You must be in Jesus, sitting 
 at his feet, allowing him to wash your stains away, 
 allowing him to enwrap your guilty soul in divine- 
 righteousness. If you were lying at the bottom of the 
 sea, no eye could see your deformities; so when the 
 infinite ocean of ImmanuePs righteousness flows over 
 the soul, you are swallowed up as it were in Christ. 
 Your blackness is never seen, only his fairness; and 
 thus a God of truth can say, "Behold thou art fair; 
 behold thou art fair my love. Thou art all fair my 
 love; there is no spot in thee. '^ Song iv. 1-7. Keep 
 this always in memory; and when guilt comes on the 
 conscience, as it will, lie down again beneath the 
 ri2:hteousness of Jesus. Never lose si2:ht of this. 
 Jesus must be seen by the Father, insteeid of our 
 guilty soul. It is no change in our black soul that is 
 to be our covering. You must leave self, and stand 
 in your elder brother. Hide behind him. Let the 
 Father's eye fall on him, not on you. This is what 
 Jesus wants. He died to be a shelter for such as 
 you. This is what the Father wants; for he is not 
 willing that any should perish. If you are seen by 
 the Father a naked guihy sinner, you must die. There 
 is no help for it. But if Jesus appears for you — if you 
 hide in his wounds like the dove in the cliffs of the 
 rock, and under his snowy raiment — then the Father 
 himself loveth you, and now you are coming up from 
 the wilderness. Every hour that strikes, that is an 
 hour less between you and glory. 0! do not grieve 
 to part with the world if you are in Christ — an hour 
 with Christ will make up for all your griefs and pains. 
 Half an hour in the presence of our God will make us 
 forget a lifetime of agony. " Leaning on her beloved!" 
 Is this the position of your soul? Do you feel empty, 
 weak, and helpless; and do you see Him mighty to 
 
 23 
 
266 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 save, able to save to the uttermost? His legs are like 
 pillars of marble. This is Christ's glory, that he jus- 
 tifies sinners who have no righteousness, and sancti- 
 fies souls that have no inborn holiness. Let Jesus 
 bear your whole weight. Remember he loves to be 
 the only support of the soul. He is a jealous Saviour. 
 He wants to be entirely trusted. There is nothing 
 that you can possibly need but you will find it in him. 
 "^// my springs are in thee.^^ Do you want right- 
 eousness? He has the spirit of a weaned child to give 
 you. Ps. cxxxi. Do you want love? he is the foun- 
 tain of love; all the promises of God in him are yea 
 and in him amen. 1 am sure if you get a glimpse of 
 him you would lay your head on his breast and die 
 there. May the Spirit anoint your eyes to see him 
 more and more, and soften your heart to lean on him. 
 Those that have leaned on him through the wilder- 
 ness shall sit with him on the throne. Rev. hi. 21. 
 Farewell, dear soul! the Lord feed you sweetly, as 
 he feeds the flowers, by silent drops of dew. Ever 
 yours, &c. 
 
 TO M. s. 
 
 Trying dispensations. 
 
 Dundee, February 28, 1841. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I have heard from J. S. of your 
 brother's death, and I write a line to comfort you. 
 There is no true comfort to be found but in Christ. 
 He is a fountain of living waters, and you must go 
 with your thirsty soul to him and drink. John vii. 
 37; Psa. Ixiii. If your brother died m the Lord, then 
 he is far better than if he were here. Phil. i. 23. If 
 he died out of the Lord, you must be like Aaron 
 when "he held his peace.'' Lev. x. 3. Be not 
 moved by these afilictions, knowing that you were 
 appointed thereunto. Seek more and more abiding 
 peace in Christ. He is not only a Saviour, but a 
 sympathizing elder brother. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 267 
 
 Read the xi. of John, and Lamentations iii., and 
 you will see what a compassionate bosom Christ 
 has. Lean your head more and you will find rest. 
 "Do not despise the chastening of the Lord/' In- 
 quire what change he would have wrousht in vou 
 and m all your friends. Are there any who need to 
 be awakened? let them listen to this warning. Are 
 there any who need to be brought off from love of 
 the world .^ let them hear the voice of God from your 
 brother's grave, saying, "What shall it profit a man 
 though he gain the whole world and lose his own 
 soul?" Your brother, though dead, still speaketh. 
 To you he says, "Lean on the beloved as you come 
 up out of the wilderness. The Lord is at hand." 
 Keep your eye fixed on Jesus. Pray much for his 
 Spirit and likeness 5 and be ready for his coming. 
 
 Our communion is on Sabbath next. Your friend 
 J. thought you would perhaps love to be here. Fare- 
 well for the present; may the Lord Jesus be very 
 near you to comfort and sanctify and bless you. Ever 
 yours, &c. 
 
 TO E. R., ASKIXG COUNSEL. 
 
 A sight of corruption drives to Christ. 
 
 Dundee, 1842. 
 Dear Friend, — I send you a hurried line, and may 
 the Spirit accompany it with his divine power to 
 your heart! It is a good thing to be shown much 
 of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of your 
 heart, provided it lead you to the Lord Jesus, that he 
 may pardon and subdue it. Slightness and carnal 
 ease are much more to be dreaded than discoveries of 
 our leprosy. 
 
 The groans and triumphal song of a believer are 
 not far separated, as you may see in Paul — Rom. vii. 
 24, 25— "0 wretched man," and "I thank God," 
 all in one breath. David felt the same — see Ixxiii. 
 Psalm. At one verse he feels himself a fool and a 
 beast in the sight of a holy God, and in the very next 
 
263 PRIVATE CORRESPONDE^XE. 
 
 verses he is cleaving to Christ with a song of unspeak- 
 able joy; ver. 22 — 24. Ah there is a sweet mystery 
 here — bitter herbs along with onr passover Lamb. 
 It is sweet to see ourselves infinitely vile, that we 
 may look to Jehovah our righteousness, as all our 
 way to the Father. 
 
 The sweet Psalmist of Israel felt this on his dying 
 bed — 2 Sam. xxiii. 5 — "Although my house be 7ioi 
 so with God, yet hath he made with me," &c. His 
 house had been the scene of many a black sin ; and 
 now, when dying, he could not but confess that it 
 was not right with God. Not a day he had lived 
 appeared clean — not a moment. So may you say in 
 the house where you live, and looking at the pollu- 
 tions of your own heart, " Although my house be not 
 so with God" — although my heart and life be not so, 
 yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, 
 ordered in all things and sure. 
 
 God makes that covenant with you, when he 
 brings you to lay hold on Jesus as your surety — your 
 curse-bearing, law-fulfilling surety. Then you are 
 brought into the bond of the everlasting covenant, 
 and all its blessings are yours — pardon, righteousness, 
 consolation, grace upon grace, life, love, the spirit of 
 supplications — all are yours, and you are Christ's, 
 and Christ is God's. 
 
 Pray to be made like Caleb, who had another 
 spirit, and followed the Lord fully. Follow Christ all 
 the day. He is the continual burnt-oftering in whom 
 you may have peace. He is the Rock that follows 
 you, from whom you may have constant and infinite 
 supplies. Give yourself wholly away to him. You 
 are safe in no other keeping but in the everlasting 
 arms of Jehovah Jesus. 
 
 Keep yourself from other men's sins. Do not go 
 to the end of the string — that is, going as far as you 
 can in dallying with temptation Vv^thout committing 
 open sin. Remember that it is our happiness to be 
 under grace, and every sin will be bitterness in the 
 end, and will take something out of your eternal por- 
 tion of glory. 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPOXDEXCE. 269 
 
 Grace be with your dear and much honoured min- 
 ister, and with all that love Christ in sincerity. Never 
 cease to pray for the parish, and for all parishes, 
 that God would pour down his life-giving Spirit, to 
 the conversion of perishing sinners and the glory of 
 his own great name. I will remember you on the 
 12th of June. 
 
 May the Lord remember us. Ever truly, &c. 
 
 TO J. T. 
 
 A young boy anxious about his soul. 
 
 Collage, Jan. 2? 1842. 
 My Dear Boy, — I was very glad to receive your 
 kind note, and am glad to send you a short line in 
 return, although my time is much taken up. You are 
 very dear to me, because your soul is precious ; and if 
 you are ever brought to Jesus, washed and justified, 
 you will praise him more sweetly than an angel of 
 light. I was riding among the snow to-day, where no 
 foot had trodden, and it was pure, pure white ; and I 
 thought again and again of that verse, " Wash im 
 and I shall he ivhiter than snoiv.^^ That is a sweet 
 prayer — make it your own. Often go alone and look 
 up to Jesus, who died to wash us from our sins, and 
 say, " Wash 7726.'" Amelia Geddie was one day dressed 
 in a new white frock,. with red ribbons in her bonnet, 
 and some one said to her, ^* No doubt you will think 
 yourself very trim and clean ?'' " Ah no,'^ she said, 
 " I will yieve?' think that until I have the fine white 
 robe of my Redeemer'' s righteousness put upon me.^^ 
 I am glad, my dear boy, you think that God is afflict- 
 ing you to bring you to himself. It is really for this 
 that he smiles you. His heart, his hand, and his rod, 
 are all inscribed with love. But then, see that he 
 does bring you to himself. Do not delay. The lake 
 of fire and brimstone stretches beneath every soul that 
 lives in sin. There is no peace saith my God to the 
 wicked. If the Lord Jesus would but draw the 
 
270 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 curtain and let you see his own fair face, and his 
 wounded side, and how there is room for the guiltiest 
 sinner in him, you would be drawn to Jesus with 
 the cords of love. I was preaching in Perth last 
 Sabbath ; when I came out a little girl came up to 
 me, I think about three or four years old. She wanted 
 to hear of the way to be saved. Her mother said she 
 had been crying the whole night before about her 
 soul, and would take no comfort till she should find 
 Jesus. ! pray that the same spirit may waken 
 you. Remember, Johnnie, you once wept for your 
 soul too, and prayed and sought Jesus. Have you 
 found him ? or have you looked back like Lot's wife, 
 and become a hard, cold pillar of salt ? Awake again 
 and call upon the name of the Lord. Your time may 
 be short, God only knows. The longest lifetime 
 is short enough. It is all that is given you to be 
 converted in. They are the happiest who are brought 
 soonest to the bosom of Jesus. 
 
 Write me again. At present I must draw to a close. 
 Give my kindest remembrances to your mamma, and 
 to A. when you write. Tell him to write me. May 
 you all meet at the table of Jesus above, and may I be 
 there, too, a sinner saved by grace. Ever yours, &c. 
 
 TO A. T. 
 
 On the death of his brother, the little boy to whom the preceding letter was written. 
 
 St. Peter's, March 1, 1842. 
 
 My Dear A. — I did not think I was to have answered 
 your kind letter, in the time of bitter grief. But so it 
 pleases Jehovah, whose will must be our will, if we 
 would be happy. It is good for you to bear the yoke 
 in your youth. This is the way God trains his saints, 
 and especially his ministers. I saw your dear little 
 brother twice on his dying bed, and indeed I could 
 not believe he was dying, except that his calm eye 
 was directed to the hills of immortality, and he seemed 
 already to breathe some of the atmosphere of the 
 world of sinless joy. I do trust and believe that he 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPOXDEXCE. 071 
 
 was a saved boy. You know I am rather slow of 
 coming to this conviction, and not fond of speaking 
 when I have not good evidence ; but here, I think, 
 God has not left us in doubt. 
 
 At Blairgowrie he used several times to speak to 
 me about divine things, and the tear would gather in 
 his eye when he said tliat he feared he had never 
 been brought to Jesus. Once, when he had a sore 
 throat, he told me he was not ready to die. But now 
 he was quite different. The veil seemed to be lifted 
 away from his heart, and he saw divine things simply 
 and fully. 
 
 Over and over he told me that he was not afraid 
 to die, for Christ had died. " How kind it was in 
 God to send Jesus to die for sinners." He seemed 
 tranquil and happy, even when the pain came on in 
 his head and made him knit his brows. You have 
 reason to mingle praise with your tears. Do not 
 sorrow "as one who has no hope. Only seek a right 
 improvement of this bereavement. He is not lost 
 but gone before, and we shall soon put oft^ this clay 
 cottage also. And soon we and he, made new, body 
 and soul, shall meet the Lord in the air, and so be 
 forever with the Lord. I was at your house on Sab- 
 bath night, and saw them all, sorrowful, yet rejoicing. 
 Your dear little brother lies like a marble statue in the 
 peaceful sleep of death, till Jesus' voice shall waken 
 him. Happy boy! he shall hunger no more, neither 
 thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on him 
 nor any heat. The days of his mourning are ended, 
 and his eternity of love and holy joy is begun. 
 
 Improve this sharp wind, dear A., for you will soon 
 lose tlie benefit, if not carefully sought after. Search 
 out the Achan in your heart at such an hour. Let 
 affliction strike heavy blows at your corruptions, your 
 idolatries, and self-pleasing, and worldly schemes. 
 Learn much of Christ at such an hour. Study him 
 at the grave of Lazarus — John xi.; and at the gate of 
 Nain — Luke viii. 11.; and also within the veil — Rev. 
 i. 18. Do not be ashamed to grieve deeply, but let 
 
Q70 PRIVATE CORRESPOXDENCE. 
 
 
 your sadness find relief in the bosom that was pierced 
 with the spear. 
 
 "Is any afflicted? let him pray." Strange, Satan 
 often tempts us to restrain prayer at such a time. Be 
 very gentle towards the souls of your kindred now. 
 
 Reniember D and R at the throne of grace. 
 
 If God had taken them, where would they have been? 
 Learn also that ministers mustcare for lambs. " Preach 
 the gospel to every creature.'^ 
 
 Pray for me, also, that I may do so, that I may be 
 made a better man and a more faithful pastor of old 
 and young. — Ever yours, till we meet in glory, &c. 
 
 TO EEV. D. CAMPBELL, OF LAWERS. 
 
 Advice to a brother in sickness. 
 
 My Dear Brother, — Like yourself, I have been laid 
 aside from the work of the ministry for two Sabbaths, 
 but am now recovering. 
 
 I am truly afflicted to hear of your trouble, and yet 
 I pray it may turn out to the furtherance of the gospel. 
 The time of my absence from my liock in 1839 was 
 more blessed to my people than even m^ presence 
 had been. Our God can work through means or 
 above them. He that puts the treasure into earthen 
 vessels, often allows the vessels to be chipped and 
 broken, that the excellency of the power may be of 
 God and not of us. Fear not for your flock. The 
 Chief Shepherd who sent you to them is faithful, and 
 his name is the Mighty God. He can feed them with 
 or without you. And none that are his can perish. 
 
 Use all prudent means for your recovery. Commit 
 yourself entirely to God, and he will turn the shadow 
 of death into the morning. I have been often brought 
 very low, but it has been always good for me. In 
 this way God educates his ministers, both for his tem- 
 ple below, and for being pillars in the temple above. 
 
 I do not think Broughty Ferry a safe place for you, 
 if your lungs are at all affected. The air is damp, 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 273 
 
 and east wind cold. If it is only your stomach that 
 ails, then it will do well; but if you have any chest 
 complaint, do not think of the east coast. Blairgowrie 
 would be much more suitable; where you would have 
 the kind care of a good Christian doctor, and the 
 ministry of dear R. M. 
 
 I fear my illness will prevent me leaving home this 
 summer ; but I do not know. Your absence will make 
 us pray more that your flock may not be forgotten. 
 
 Do not be afraid at leaving home. His compas- 
 sions are new every morning. Great is his faithful- 
 ness. He doth not afflict willingly. 
 
 All grace be with you from the fountain of living 
 waters. Ever yours, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. H. BO^^\.R, KELSO. 
 
 Ministerial arrangements — Breathings after holiness. 
 
 August 18th, 1842. 
 My Dear Horace, — I laid aside your note, and 
 cannot find it again. I think you ask me for the 
 second Sabbath of November, on my way back from 
 London. I fear I must not do it, but abide by my 
 former arrangement. Mr. Hamilton presses me hard 
 to stay two Sabbaths, and I would have agreed, but 
 am to elect elders on the second Sabbath of Novem- 
 ber. According to the new law of the church, the 
 signed lists are read in a meeting of session on the 
 third Sabbath after the intimation is given, so that I 
 will need to be back, even though I should need to 
 be in Edinburgh the week after. If spared then, I 
 shall hold to our former arrangement. 
 
 We have had a very sweet season here during the 
 concert, which was also onr communion week. An- 
 drew, Candlish, Cormick, Gumming, Milne, and Gra- 
 ham from Ireland, all assisted me. We had meetings 
 every morning. 
 
 Your scheme was very helpful ; I enclose mine. 
 About seven hundred people attended each morning ; 
 
274 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 and on the fast-day, and Sabbath too. Several souls 
 have been deeply awakened. 
 
 I have great desire for personal growth in faith and 
 holiness. I love the word of God, and find it sweet- 
 est nourishment to my soul. Can you help me to 
 study it more successfully ? The righteousness of 
 God is all my way to the Father, for I am the chief 
 of sinners ; and were it not for the promise of the 
 Comforter, my soul would sink in the hour of tempta- 
 tion. 
 
 Did you observe that the Charlinch revival took 
 place in the week of the concert for prayer last year ? 
 
 The trials of the Church are near. May we be 
 kept in the shadow of the Rock. Farewell ! I\Iay 
 Jesus shine on you. Yours, &.c. 
 
 TO THE REV. E. MACDONALD, BLAIRGOWRIE. 
 
 Inward life— Words of counsel. 
 
 Dundee, 1842. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — This is Friday evening, and I 
 do not know what to preach on Sabbath next, else I 
 would have written you at greater length; but as I 
 am to see you so soon face to face, there is the less 
 need of communing with ink^and pen. 
 
 I hope your health keeps good, and your labours 
 abundant — that you have a continued interest in the 
 blood which speaketh peace — a sense of forgiveness 
 and acceptance in the beloved — that you feel " his 
 right hand under your head,^' and the power of his 
 indwelling Spirit dwelling in you and walking in you. 
 These sweet experiences alone make the minister's 
 life calm and serene, like this autumnal evening. Ah, 
 how easy it is to speak or write about them. What a 
 different thing to feel them. It is my constant desire, 
 and yet I am constantly disappointed. I think I 
 never was brought to feel the wickedness of my heart 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 075 
 
 as I do now. Yet I do not feel it as many sweet 
 Christians do, while they are high above it, and seem 
 to look down into a depth of iniquity, deep, deep in 
 their bosoms. Now, it appears to me as if my feet 
 were actually in the miry clay, and I only wonder 
 that I am kept from open sin. My only refuge is in 
 the word, " I will put my Spirit within you." It is 
 only by being made partakers of the divine nature 
 that I can escape the corruption that is in the world 
 through lust. 
 
 All things go on here much as they did. I cannot 
 say that my sermons are much shorter, though I have 
 tried to shorten them. ISIy meeting is still the hour 
 and half, nor do I see how I can shorten it. It is 
 very well attended. A stranger started up and prayed 
 one evening. I did not interrupt him, or take notice 
 of it, but have thought it best to forbid it. None but 
 ordained servants should speak in churches. 
 
 I hope you have got all your preparations well 
 forward. Deal faithfully by all that speak to you for 
 the communion, especially the young. If you would 
 have a clear conscience, none but those who are 
 seeking really to close with Jesus Christ should be 
 allowed to take the bread and wine, if a word of 
 yours can help it. 
 
 Be decided in keeping back the scandalous. Stir 
 up your elders to this. They are very apt to be re- 
 miss. May you have much grace given you at this 
 time and peace — droppings of the Spirit, and refresh- 
 ings of peace in the heart. I invite all who have any 
 wish to speak to their minister before communicating, 
 to do so. INlay you have much fruit at this time that 
 shall appear many days hence. I have been sur- 
 prised to find even a poor table service blessed. 
 Expect much, and much will be given. Pray for 
 me, for I am all but desolate. 
 
 Yours faithfully, &c. 
 
276 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 TO ONE OF HIS FLOCK, WHO HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO THE 
 CHARGE OF A FEMALE SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
 Do what you can. 
 
 Collage, July 25, 1842. 
 Dear Friend, — I have been laid aside for a short 
 time, and did not' receive your letter till it was too 
 late to send the communicant's line, which you de- 
 sired. I have no doubt Mr. B. would give you a 
 token, however, even without a line. I am truly 
 glad to hear that you are so fully employed, and ear- 
 nestly trust that your labours may be owned by God. 
 Souls are perishing every day, and our own entrance 
 into eternity cannot be far distant. Let us, like 
 Mary, ^'do what we can," and no doubt God will 
 bless it, and reward us openly. Sit under a living 
 ministry if you can. Seek much personal holiness 
 and likeness to Christ in all the features of his blessed 
 character. Seek to be lamb-like; without which all 
 your efforts to do good to others will be as sounding 
 brass or a tinkling cymbal. 
 
 Pray for dear St. Peter's, that the dew may never 
 cease to fall there ; continue in prayer and watch in 
 the same with thanksgiving. Ever truly, &c. 
 
 TO ONE AWAKENED. 
 
 Call upon a soul to choose Jesus. 
 
 Dundee, Sept. 1842. 
 My Dear G.— I was glad indeed to see by the line 
 you sent me, that though your mind is dark and trou- 
 bled you have not gone back to the world. Ah, it is 
 a false deceiving world. It smiles only to betray. 
 Fain would I lead you to taste the peace that passeth 
 understanding, and that is to be found only in Jesus. 
 You are quite wrong in thinking that I do not under- 
 stand your misery. I know it well. It is true Jesus 
 does give me peace. He washes me from all sin in 
 his own blood. I often feel him standing by my side 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 277 
 
 and looking down upon me, saying, "thou art mine.'' 
 Yet still I have known more misery than you. I have 
 sinned more deeply than you. I have sinned against 
 more light and more love, and yet I have found 
 mercy; why may not you? Remember what James 
 Covey said: "Tell poor sailors that none of them 
 need to despair, since poor blaspheming Covey found 
 mercy." I was interrupted just while writing this, 
 by a very little girl coming to ask, " what must I do 
 to be saved?" Poor thing, she has been weeping till 
 I thousht her heart would break. She lives several 
 miles off, but a companion was awakened and told 
 her, and ever since she has been seeking Christ with 
 all her heart. I was telling her that sweet verse, 
 1 Tim. i. 15: "Christ Jesus came into the world to 
 save sinners, of whom I am the chief" It will an- 
 swer you also, dear friend. Christ Jesus was God's 
 dear Son. He made all things, sun, moon, and stars, 
 men and angels. He was from all eternity in the 
 bosom of the Father, and yet he came into the world. 
 He did not say, " I will keep my throne and my hap- 
 piness, and leave sinners to die and perish in their 
 sins." No; "He came into the world." He became 
 a babe, and was laid in a manger, for there was not 
 room in the inn. The inn was like your heart ; it 
 was filled with other lodgers, and had no I'oom for 
 Jesus. He became "a man of sorrows and acquainted 
 with grief" He bore our sins upon his own body on 
 the tree. While we were sinners, " Christ died for 
 us." Why did he do all this ? Ah ! it was " to save 
 sinners." Not to save good people — not to save 
 angels — but sinners. Perhaps you will say, "but I 
 am too bad a sinner ;" but Paul says, " of whom I 
 am the chief" Paul was the chief of sinners, and yet 
 he was saved by Christ. So Christ is willing and able 
 to save you though you were the chief sinner on the 
 face of the earth. If Christ came into this world and 
 died to save such as you, will it not be a fearful thing 
 if you die without being saved by him? Surely you 
 have lived long enough without Christ. You have 
 despised Jesus long enough. What has the world 
 
 24 
 
278 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 done for you, that you love it so much? Did the 
 Avorld die for you ? Will the world blot out your sins 
 or change your heart ? Will the world carry you to 
 heaven? No, no! You may go back to the world, 
 if you please, but it can only destroy your poor soul. 
 "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth,'^ 
 1 Timothy v. 6. Read these words in your Bible, 
 and mark them, and if you go back that mark will be 
 a witness against you before the great white throne, 
 when the books are opened. Have you not lived 
 long enough in pleasure? Come and try the plea- 
 sures of Christ — forgiveness and a new heart. I have 
 not been at a dance or any worldly amusement for 
 many years, and yet I believe I have had more plea- 
 sure in a single day than you have had all your life. 
 Jn what ? you will say. In feeling that God loves 
 me — that Christ has washed me — and in feeling that 
 I shall be in heaven when the wicked are cast into 
 hell. "A day in thy courts is better than a thousand ;'' 
 Psalm Ixxxiv. 10. 
 
 I do not know what is to be the result of your 
 anxieties. I do not know whether you will be drawn 
 to Christ, or driven back into the whirlpool of a 
 perishing world ; but I know that all will soon be 
 settled for eternity. I was in a very wicked family 
 to-day, where a child had died. I opened my Bible, 
 and explained this verse to them over the coffm of 
 their little one, Heb. ix. 27, "It is appointed unto men 
 once to die, but after this the judgment.'^ Solemn 
 words! we have only once to die, and the day is 
 fixed. If you die wrong the first time, you cannot 
 come back to die better a second time. If you die 
 without Christ, you cannot come back to be converted 
 and die a believer — you have but once to die. 0! 
 pray that you may find Christ before death finds you. 
 " After this the judgment.'' Not, after this purga^ 
 tory. No farther opportunity to be saved — "after this 
 the judgment." As death leaves you, so judgment 
 finds yon. If you die unsaved, you will be so in the 
 judgment. May I never see you at the left hand! If 
 I do, you will remember how I warned you, and 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 279 
 
 prayed for you, and besought you to come to the 
 Lord Jesus. 
 
 Come to Jesus — he will in no wise cast you out* 
 Your affectionate friend, &.c. 
 
 TO A SOUL IXaUIRING AFTER JESUS. 
 The wise men — Guilt in us, righteousness in Jesus. 
 
 St. Peter's, Monday^ Sept. I8th, 1842. 
 
 My Dear C. — I do not and cannot forget you, and, 
 though it is very late, I have to write you a few Hues 
 to say, follow on to know Jesus. I do not know if 
 you can read my crooked writing, but I will make it 
 as plain as I can. I was reading this morning, Luke 
 ii. 29, what old Simeon said when he got the child 
 Jesus into his arms — ^'Nowlettest thou thy servant 
 depart in peace, according to thy word : for mine eyes 
 have seen thy salvation." If you get a firm hold of 
 the Lord Jesus, you will be able to say the same. 
 
 If you had died in your ignorance and sin, dear 
 soul, where would you have been this night? Ah! 
 how shall we sufficiently praise God if he really has 
 brought you to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! 
 Psalm xxxvi. 12, 13, will suit your case. If you 
 all are really brought to Christ, it will be something 
 like the case of the wise men of the east. Matt. ii. 
 When they were in their own country, God attracted 
 their attention by means of a star. They followed it, 
 and came to Jerusalem, saying, ^' Where is he that is 
 born King of the Jews? for we are come to worship 
 him." Herod and Jerusalem were troubled at the 
 saying. No one was seeking Christ but themselves. 
 The world thought they were mad; but soon they saw 
 the star again, and it led them to the house where the 
 infant Saviour lay — his robe of state a swaddling 
 band — his cradle the manger. Yet they kneeled 
 down and called him, " my Lord and my God" — they 
 got their own souls saved — and gave him gifts, the 
 best they had, and then departed into their own 
 
280 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 country with great joy in their hearts, and heaven in 
 their eye. So may it be with you. The most around 
 you care not for Jesus. But you are asking, " Where 
 is he? — we are come to be saved by iiim." None 
 around you can tell. They think you are going out 
 of your mind. But God is leading you to the very 
 spot where the Redeemer is — a lowly, despised, spit- 
 upon, crucified Saviour. Can this be the Saviour of 
 the world ? Yes, dear soul; kneel down and call him 
 your Redeemer. He died for such as you and me. 
 And now you may go away into your own country, 
 again, but not as you came. You will carry with 
 you joy unspeakable and full of glory. A young 
 woman called upon me on Wednesday last, whom I 
 had never seen before. She said she was a stranger 
 from another part of Scotland; she came to this town 
 about a year ago, and attended St. Peter's, and there, 
 for the first time, learned that she was a sinner and 
 needed Christ. About four weeks ago she found rest 
 and joy at the Saviour's feet. I said to her, " Then 
 you will bless God that he brought you from your 
 own countr}^ to this place." She said, " I often do 
 that." Another woman came the same evening, 
 whom I had never seen. She said she had been 
 married eight years to a wicked husband. One of her 
 neighbours had brought her to our church, and now 
 she feels that Christ has saved her soul. 
 
 Thus the work goes on—" The Lord added to the 
 church daily such as shall be saved." A young 
 woman was with me to-night in great distress. She 
 said, " I have a wicked heart within me that would 
 sink a world." I said, " I am thankful to hear you 
 complain of your wicked heart, dear friend, it is un- 
 searchably wicked. There is not a sin committed on 
 earth or in hell but has its spring and fountain in 
 your breast and mind. You are all sin — your nature 
 is sin — your heart is sin — your past life is sin — your 
 prayers are all sin." ! that you would despair of 
 being righteous in yourself. Then take the Lord 
 Jesus for your righteousness. In him is no sin. And 
 he stood for us, and offers to be your shield, your 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 281 
 
 way to the Father. You may be righteous in Christ 
 with a perfect righteousness, broad as the law, and 
 pure as the Hght of heaven. If you had an angel's 
 righteousness, you might well lay it down and put on 
 Jesus. The robe of a blood-washed sinner is far 
 whiter than that of an angel. Do not fear the frown 
 of the world. When a blind man comes against you 
 in the street, you are not angry at him ; you say. He is 
 blind, poor man, or he would not have hurt me. So 
 you may say of the poor world, when they speak 
 evil of Christians — they are blind. If they knew 
 their sin, and misery, and the love of Jesus, they 
 would cleave to him also. Fear not them which 
 kill the body, and after that have no more that they 
 can do. Keep close to the Lord Jesus. He is greater 
 than all that can be against you — he is the Shepherd 
 of his sheep — he will defend you from wolves. Pray 
 for the Holy Spirit, dear friend. Ask him to come 
 into your heart, and abide there. It is a mean dwell- 
 ing for such a guest. Still he will make it clean and 
 holy by dwelling in it. Ask him to teach you to 
 pray: Rom. viii. 26, 27. He will give you " groan- 
 ings that cannot be uttered." Ask him to change 
 your heart and make it like that of Jesus. Ask him 
 to write the law upon your heart, and to keep you in 
 every time of need. I fear you are weary of my long 
 sermons. Remember, if you are not saved, I will be 
 a witness against you in the judgment-day. 
 
 Come ye weary, heavy laden, 
 
 Lost and ruined by the fall ; 
 If ye tarry till you're better, 
 
 You will never come at all. 
 Not the righteous — sinners Jesus came to call. 
 
 Farewell ! Write me soon all your heart. 
 
 Ever yours till glory, &c. 
 
 24 
 
 * 
 
282 PRIVATE CORRESPONDEiNCE. 
 
 TO THE SA3IE. 
 
 Trials from a blind world— How the death of Christ is an atonement. 
 
 London, Nov. 5th, 1842. 
 
 My Dear C. — I pray for you, that your faith may not 
 fail. Hold fast by Jesus for a little while, and then 
 we shall be for ever with the Lord, where the unbe- 
 lieving will never be. I got safely up to town with- 
 out stopping. The young man in the coach with us 
 was Lord P. He and I were alone all night in the 
 railway carriage, and I would fain have told him the 
 way to be saved, but when morning dawned I lost 
 him. I preached twice on Thursday, and once last 
 night, and now I am preparing for to-morrow. I 
 feel, like John the Baptist, a voice of one crying in 
 the wilderness. The mad world presses on like a 
 bird hasting to the snare. They do not know that the 
 dead are there, and her guests are in the depths of 
 hell. 
 
 I thank God without ceasing when I remember you 
 all — how God opened your eyes and hearts, and made 
 you flee from the wrath to come and believe the record 
 which God hath given concerning his Son. " Fear 
 none of those things which thou shalt suff'er.'' " Be 
 thou faithful vmto death, and I will sive thee a crown 
 of hfe." Rev. ii. 10. Do not be surprised if worldly 
 people mock you, and say all manner of evil against 
 you falsely. Jesus told you it would be so. " If you 
 were of the world, the world would love its own." 
 You have been long enough of the world. Did the 
 world ever hate you then? So now, when you have 
 come out from among them, and are cleaving to Jesus, 
 do you think they will love you ? Remember Jesus 
 loves you. God is for you, and who can be against 
 you ? Remember, all who have gone to heaven be- 
 fore you sufl'ered the same things; see Rev. vii. 14, 
 " These are they that came out of great tribulation." 
 
 You wish to understand more about Christ's death 
 being an atonement. I shall try and explain. The 
 curse which Adam by his sins brought upon us all, 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 283 
 
 was this, " Thou shalt surely- die :" Genes, ii. 17. This 
 included the death of the body, the death of the soul, 
 and the eternal destruction of both in hell. This is 
 the curse that hangs over every unpardoned sinner. 
 And our sins have only added certainty and weight to 
 the awful curse, for the " wages of sin is death." 
 Now, when the Son of God said he would become 
 our surety and Saviour, the Father said, " Thou must 
 die for them;" see John x. 17, 18. "I lay down my 
 life." " This commandment have I received from my 
 Father." It is true, Christ did not sutfer eternal de- 
 struction in hell; but he was a person so glorious and 
 excellent — God's own Son — that his short sufferings 
 were equal in value to our eternal agonies. So that, 
 in the eye of law, and in God's account, Jesus has 
 suffered all that you and I were condemned to suffer. 
 Hence that sweet, sweet passage, Isa. xl. 1,2," Com- 
 fort ye, comfort ye, * * * for she hath received 
 (in Christ) of the Lord's hand double for all her sins." 
 Christ's dying for us is as much in God's account as 
 if we had twice over borne the eternal agonies of hell. 
 Hence that sweet song which God enable you and G. 
 to sing, Isa. xii. 1, "I will praise thee; though thou 
 wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and 
 thou comfortedst me." Hence also that triumphant 
 question, Rom. viii. 34, "Who is he that condemneth? 
 It is Christ that died." 
 
 Keep looking then to Jesus, dear soul, and you will 
 have the peace that passethall understanding. When- 
 ever Satan accuses you, send him to the stripes of the 
 Lord Jesus. Deal gently and tenderly with your un- 
 converted friends. Remember you were once as blind 
 as they. " He was despised and we esteemed him 
 not," Isa. liii. Honour your mother in the Lord. 
 Give her all reverence and obedience in things not 
 
 sinful. Ask to read and pray over Mat. xviii. 3, 6. 
 
 I would love much to visit the cottage on my re- 
 turn, but I fear I shall be kept in town till Friday, 
 so that I must travel night and day home. The Lord 
 bless you, and keep you cleaving to Christ the true 
 vine. You have found the pearl of great price. Go 
 
284 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 and sin no more. " If any man draw back, my soul 
 shall have no pleasure in him." God is able to 
 keep you from falling. In liis dear arms I leave you. 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 TO A SOUL THAT HAD BEGUN TO SEE CHRIST. 
 
 What you want in yourself is to be found in double measure in Christ. 
 
 DuiNDEE, Nov. 1842. 
 My Dear Friend, — Why did you not write me a 
 few lines? It would be occupation to you, and your 
 soul might find rest, even when pouring itself out to 
 another. I do trust you are seeking hard after Him 
 whom your soul loveth. He is not far from any one 
 of us. He is a powerful and precious Saviour, and 
 happy are they who put their trust in him. He is 
 the Rose of Sharon, lovely to look upon, having all 
 divine and human excellencies meeting in himself; 
 and yet he is the Lily of the Valleys — meek and lowly 
 in heart, willing to save the vilest. He answers the 
 need of your soul. You are all guilt; he is all a fountain 
 to wash you. You are all naked; he has a wedding 
 garment to cover you. You are dead; he is the life. 
 You are all wounds and bruises ; he is the Balm of 
 Gilead. His righteousness is broader than your sin ; 
 and then he is so free. Remember the word we read 
 at the draw-well — " Whosoever will, let him take the 
 water of life freely." Look at Isa. xl. 1,2, " Comfort 
 ye, comfort ye, my people." If you receive Christ as 
 your surety, you have realized double punishment for 
 all your sins. The sufferings of Christ for us were 
 as honouring to God as if we had suffered eternal 
 punishment twice over. If you will only open your 
 arms to receive Christ as your surety, then your 
 iniquity is pardoned. You will taste immediate for- 
 giveness. Your warfare with the law and an accusing 
 conscience will be immediately accomplished. If you 
 will only lay hold on Christ now, you will feel the 
 force of that sweet command, " Comfort ye, comfort 
 ye ;" — double comfort, double peace, for in Jesus you 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 285 
 
 have suffered double wrath. Pray over that verse ; 
 and may He who first made the hght to shine out of 
 darkness shine into your heart, to let you see the way 
 of salvation clearly. Soon may you sing, "Thou 
 wast angry with me; but thine anger is turned away, 
 and thou comfortedst me.'^ "0! to grace, how great 
 a debtor!" You are always in m)'' prayers, that God 
 would reveal himself unto you. the joy of being 
 able to say, "My beloved is mine, and I am his." 
 Ever yours in the gospel, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. P. L. MILLER, WALLACETOWN. 
 
 A word in season to the weary. 
 
 Sept. 14, 1842. 
 My Dear Patrick, — When I last saw Horatius, I 
 agreed not to ask him at all at the autumn commu- 
 nion, but only in the spring. I know not well where 
 to look, as A. is to undertake the Edinburgh commu- 
 nion. 
 
 Don't be cast down, except for sin. Lie low in 
 self, and set both feet on the Rock of ages. The sun, 
 by one blink, can give a smile to nature, so can the 
 Lord's face give life to our dark souls. Numbers do 
 not prove life always. Remember the well of Sychar. 
 Get much of the hidden life in your own soul; soon 
 it will make life spread around. 
 
 Try prayer when preaching fails. He can turn 
 the water into wine. Farewell ! Ever yours in 
 Jesus, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. MILNE, PERTH. 
 
 Another word in season to a brother. 
 
 September 2ith, 1842. 
 
 My Dear Brother, — I long after you in the bowels 
 of Jesus Christ. If I make you sorry, who is he that 
 maketh me glad, but the same who is made sorry by 
 me? I often try to carry you to Jesus, as the four 
 
286 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 friends did the palsied man, and I have been longing 
 to hear you say that his word to you was — " Be of 
 good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee ;" and then, 
 *' arise and walk." I wonder often God does not hide 
 his face from me and lay me low, yet he restores my 
 soul after many falls. He holds me by my right hand, 
 and I beheve will bring me to glory, though the 
 weakest and most inconstant of all his saved ones. 
 We shall praise more loudly than other men, and 
 love more ardently, and gaze upon his wounds more 
 wistfully, and say — He gave himself for us. Clieer 
 up, brother, and tell poor sinners what Jesus can do; 
 for if he could not save the vilest of them all, we had 
 never preached the good news. 
 
 If I could be with you, how gladly would I! But I 
 do not see my way. I have promised to be in Lon- 
 don the first Sabbath of November, whicli will take 
 me soon away, and for a long time, from this poor 
 flock. 
 
 Will you come to me on Monday the 17th, the last 
 day of the concert for prayer? I think of printing a 
 similar tract to last year's, or perhaps the same, with 
 improvements. Suggest something. 
 
 This is Saturday, and I am empty. for fulness 
 out of Him! Why do we not take all out of Jesus? 
 Ever yours till glory dawn, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. J. MILNE, PERTH. 
 
 Breathings of heart. 
 
 December 13th, 1842. 
 
 My Dear Brother, — We are to have the commu- 
 nion, if God permit, on 1st January 1843. A. B. is 
 to be with me. Could you come down on the Thurs- 
 day or Friday previous, and give us a good and com- 
 fortable word in the evening, 29th or 30th December 
 — either you choose, or both, if you prefer that? 
 
 I preach at Newtyle to-night, and to-morrow even- 
 ing at Lintrathen in a barn, and on Thursday at Kir- 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 2S7 
 
 riemuir. Pray for me, for I am a poor worm, all guilt 
 and all Helplessness, but still able to say — In the Lord 
 have I righteousness and strength. When shall the 
 day break, and the shadows flee away? When that 
 which is perfect is come, then that which is in part 
 shall be done away. I long for love without any 
 coldness, light without dimness, and purity without 
 spot or wrinkle. I long to be at Jesus' feet, and tell 
 him I am all his, and ever will be. Yours till then, &c. 
 
 TO ONE WHO HAD LATELY TAKEN UP THE CROSS. 
 
 Kept by God — Meeting with God. 
 
 St. Peter's, Jan. 31sf, 1843. 
 
 My Dear M. — I was glad indeed to hear that you 
 are prospering, and that you do not repent having 
 made Moses' choice — Heb. xi. 24, 25 — of which I 
 used to tell you so often. Happy is that people whose 
 God is the Lord. You remember what Ruth said 
 when she clave to Naomi; "Thy people shall be 
 my people, and thy God my God." I have not got 
 your note by me, and it is late, but I will answer it 
 to-morrow. I only write a line to night to strengthen 
 your faith — " that I may be comforted together with 
 you, by the mutual faith both of you and me," Rom. 
 1. 12. I have been remaining quiet since I wrote you 
 last, that I may gather strength for the north. I 
 expect hard service, but I hope Jesus will be with 
 me. You remember the sweet promise Jacob got at 
 Bethel, while he slept at the foot of that wondrous 
 ladder, " Behold I am with thee, and will keep thee 
 in all places whither thou goest, for I will not leave 
 thee until I have done that which I have spoken to 
 thee of" That promise is to you and me as truly as 
 to Jacob. Therefore, do not fear though you may be 
 taken among those who are strangers to Jesus and his 
 love. There is a sweet promise; Ezek. xi. 16. I 
 have felt its preciousness in foreign lands. Jesus him- 
 self will be our sanctuary not made with hands. I 
 
2SS PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 was preaching on Thursday last, on Rev. xix. 12, 
 " On his head were many croAvns;" trying to teach 
 them the kingly office of the Lord Jesus. It was a 
 very solemn night. On Sabbath I lectured on Heb. 
 ix. 9, 10, and preached in the evening on Isa. xlix. 5. 
 "Though Israel be not gathered;" showing that how- 
 ever many will be lost by unbelief, still Christ would 
 not lose one beam of his glory. If all the world 
 were blind, and said the sun was dark, that would 
 not take away one bright ray from it. It was a very 
 awful subject, and my heart yearned over poor lost 
 sinners. Four little girls have come since, asking, 
 " what must I do to be saved?" Three of them were 
 awakened before, and one very lately. A widow 
 came last night whom I never sa^w before, to tell me 
 that she had found the Lord Jesus. To night we 
 have been at a large meeting about the tracts which 
 are distributed monthly to every house in town — a 
 very sweet society. It is now late, and I am talking 
 a little while with you as we used to do before re- 
 tiring. Did you read Gen. xxxii. to-day? What a 
 solemn chapter. Do you ever come to a spot you can 
 call Mahanaim, where the angels of God meet you. 
 I trust you are one of the heirs of salvation, and that 
 the angels are sent forth to minister to you. Uncon- 
 verted souls have no such privilege. You see Jacob 
 was going on God's errand, at God's command (see 
 xxxi. 3), when the angels of God met him. 0! it is 
 sweet to go on God's errands. How long we went 
 Satan's, and the world's, and our own, "serving di- 
 vers lusts and pleasures." Do you not feel your 
 heart lighter now as you walk on the narrow way? 
 Is not a Christian's darkest hour calmer than the 
 world's brightest? Is not Jacob's prayer in his dis- 
 tress an interesting one? (ver. 9-12.) He puts God in 
 remembrance of his promise. This is what we should 
 do — "The Lord which said unto me." And "thou 
 saidst, I will surely do thee good." God commands 
 us to do this; Isa. xliii. 26, "Put me in remembrance.'^ 
 It is a blessed way of praying, to pray upon a pro- 
 mise, and to plead, " Do as thou hast said." You 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 289 
 
 remember " Faith's Plea," a little book Miss C. gave 
 yon. Who do you think the man was that wrestled 
 with Jacob? Was it not Jesus, the sinner's friend? 
 At the day-break Jacob began to see his blessed fea- 
 tures, and when his thigh was out of joint he could 
 do nothing but hang upon him. This is what you 
 and I should do. Say, " I will not let thee go except 
 thou bless me." Are there not some spots that you 
 can call Peniel, where you have met Jehovah-Jesus 
 face to face? When you do get into his presence, O 
 do not v/eary of it ; do not soon let go your hold. I 
 am sure we lose much by our slight hold on Jesus. I 
 was telling an interesting story to-night. Thirty thou- 
 sand Spaniards lately came over the Pyrenees into 
 France, to escape the civil wars. Some Geneva youths 
 determined to take the opportunity of providing them 
 with Spanish Testaments. The London Society grant- 
 ed them ten thousand copies. With these they set off 
 and distributed freely. But the Spanish priests had 
 come over and would not allow the Spaniards to re- 
 ceive or keep them. Many were burned or torn; they 
 called them •• The plague." One Spanish youth bought 
 a Testament — kept it — read it — believed on Jesus; 
 and when his countrymen returned to Spain, he staid 
 behind to hear more of these wonders of redeeming 
 love. Was not this one precious soul worth all the 
 expense and trouble a thousand times over? "Be not 
 weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if 
 we faint not." Be active for God; you have lost 
 much time already. Do nothing rashly, nothing un- 
 feminine — give no just cause for reproach, but do not 
 fear ridicule or proud men's sneers. If they knew 
 what you know, they would rather inquire, " that 
 I knew where I might find Him !" Meanwhile, good 
 night. jNIay He who never slumbers nor sleeps watch 
 over you all, and keep you till your dying day ! May 
 Jesus be near you, and make you his own ! I fear I 
 must not visit Kelso this season. I leave for the north 
 on Monday, and do not expect to be home till the 25th. 
 
 I fear this cuts off all hope of my visiting R 
 
 the time you mention. I do hope to be in England 
 
 25 
 
290 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 early in the summer, but before that I do not see my 
 way. But I shall gladly leave myself in Jehovah's 
 hand. Present duty is ours; neither must we consult 
 our mere wishes. If I hear from you before I leave, 
 I shall try and send you another line. I am glad you 
 teach in the classes, and I think I see you telling all 
 you know. Remember Paul ; when his heart was 
 changed, for thirty years he did nothing else than 
 serve Jesus. He laboured away in the service of Him 
 who died for him, and plucked him from the burning. 
 It is interesting to notice also, how often Paul told 
 them of his own conversion. He told it to the Jews ; 
 Acts xxii. — then to Agrippa ; Acts xxvi. — then to the 
 Galatians; Gal. i. 13-16 — then to the Philippians; 
 Phil. iii. 4. I think this an example for us to do 
 the same, cautiously and wisely. John Newton once 
 preached in Newgate to the prisoners. He chose 
 1 Tim. i. 15, for his text, and told them his own history, 
 so that they wept and he wept. Pray for me still, 
 that my way may be made plain. This is one of the 
 blessings of having spiritual children, that you will 
 
 surely pray for me. Do not cease to pray for 
 
 that her eyes may be opened to see her true condition, 
 and that she may call upon Jesus before it be too late. 
 I must now leave you and write a little to others. I 
 preach at Wallacetown to-night. May the Master be 
 there ! he is a sweet Master ! One smile from 
 Jesus sustains my soul amid all the storms and frowns 
 of this passing world. Pray to know Jesus better. 
 Have no other righteousness — no other strength but 
 only Jesus. Soon we shall see him coming in the 
 clouds of heaven. May you be kept faithful to death. 
 Ever your loving friend, &c. 
 
 TO M. B., 
 
 One of his flock who had felt deserted in soul. 
 
 Peterhead. Feb. 1th, 1843. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I was very happy to hear from you. 
 I grieve to hear of your sorrow; but Job's sorrow was 
 
 J 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 291 
 
 deeper, and David's also, in the xlii. Psalm. If you 
 cannot sa}^, ''I found Him whom my soul loveth/' is it 
 not sweet that you can say, ^'I am sick of love" — he is 
 my beloved still, though he has withdrawn himself 
 and is gone for a time ? Seek into the cause of your 
 declension. See that it be not some Achan in your 
 bosom — some idol set up in the corner of your heart. 
 See that it be not some allowed sin — an unlawful 
 attachment that is drawing you away from the bleed- 
 ing side of Jesus, and bringing a cloud between you 
 and that bright Sun of righteousness. When you find 
 out the cause, confess it and bewail it in the ear of a 
 listening God. Tell him all. Keep nothing back. 
 If you cannot find out the cause, ask him to tell it 
 you. Get it washed in the blood of Jesus. Then 
 ,get it subdued. Micah vii. 19. None but the Lord 
 Jesus can either pardon or subdue. Remember not 
 to rest in a state of desertion. ^' I will rise now and 
 go about the city." And yet do not think that you 
 have some great thing to do before regaining peace 
 with God. The work on which peace is given has all 
 been done by Jesus for us. "The word is nigh thee." 
 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every 
 one that believeth. 
 
 The sunshine is always sweeter after we have been 
 in the shade; so wiU you find Jesus in returning to 
 him. True, it is better never to wander; but when 
 you have wandered, the sooner you return the happier 
 you will be. '• I will go and return to my first hus- 
 band, for then it was better with me than now." 
 Hos. ii. 7. 
 
 Do not delay, but humble yourself under his mighty 
 hand, and he will exalt you in due season. I have 
 been speaking to-night in this place to a large and 
 attentive audience on Zech. ix. 9. INIay you be en- 
 abled to apply it. Remember me to Mrs. K , and 
 
 also to all your fellow-servants whom I know and 
 
 love in the truth. Tell N C to make sure 
 
 that she is in Christ, and not to take man's word for 
 
 it. Tell E L to abide in Jesus; and tell her 
 
 brother to take care lest he be a rotten branch of the 
 
292 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 true vine. Tell W J to be faithful unto 
 
 death. 
 
 I have no greater joy than to know that my children 
 walk in the truth. I am your loving pastor, &c. 
 
 TO THE REV. ALEX. GATHERER, DUNDEE. 
 
 During his visit to tlie north. 
 
 Ellon, Feb. 20th, 1843. 
 
 Dear Friend, — I was glad to hear from you in this 
 far off land. I am deeply grieved to hear that fever 
 still prevails. God is pleading hard with my poor 
 flock. I am glad to hear of your preaching on such 
 precious texts, and hope they were blessed to many. 
 Never forget that the end of a sermon is the salvation 
 of the people. I feel more and more that it is God's 
 cause in which we are embarked. King Jesus is a 
 good master. I have had some sweet seasons of com- 
 munion with an unseen God, Avhich I would not give 
 for thousands of gold and silver. May you have much 
 of his presence with you. Write me to Cruden, or, 
 if immediately, to Captain Shepherd's, Straloch, New 
 Machar. Ever yours in Jesus, &c. 
 
 TO ONE WHO HAD MET WITH A BEREAVEMENT. 
 
 Sorrow of the world — Incidents. 
 
 March 8, 1843. 
 
 My Dear ■ — , I know you will be wearying to 
 
 hear from me, but it has scarcely been in my power 
 till now; I have had so many things to do since my 
 return. I trust Jesus is making known to you his 
 power to calm the soul in the deepest trials. '• Where 
 is your faith?" he said to the disciples; and he says to 
 you, ''All things are possible to him that believeth." 
 
 I was much afflicted for your sakes to read the 
 solemn letter you sent to me. Do you remember the 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 293 
 
 words, "We must needs go through Samaria?" We 
 are getting new hght upon their meaning. 
 
 I was reading to-day about godly sorrow, and the 
 sorrow of the world. Do you know the difference 
 between these two? 
 
 Had this blow come upon you in your unconverted 
 state, it would have wrought, perhaps, only the sor- 
 row of the world — carnal sorrow — sorrow that drives 
 us away from God — makes us murmur and complain 
 of his dealings. Like Pharaoh, who turned harder 
 every blow that God struck — even the loss of his first 
 born only hardened him. But godly sorrow, or, more 
 literally, "sorrow towards God" — grief that brings us 
 to the feet of God — worketh repentance unto salva- 
 tion, not to be repented of. It is used as an instrument 
 to bring the humbled soul to cleave to Jesus. may 
 it be so with you. Humble yourselves under the 
 mighty hand of God, and he shall exalt you in due 
 season. Improve the season while it lasts. The far- 
 mer improves the seed-time, to cast in the seed into 
 the furrows. Now, when God has made long the 
 furrow, by the plough of affliction, in your heart, 
 see that you let the Sower sow the good seed deep in 
 
 your hearts. I trust H. B may be made a great 
 
 blessing and comfort to 3^ou next Sabbath. May you 
 all be enabled to meet with Jesus at his own table, 
 and to tell him all your sorrows there, and ask grace 
 to keep you in the evil day. 
 
 I would like well to be with you ; but in body this 
 may not be. In heart I am often with you, because 
 I can say what I was reading to-day, " Ye are in my 
 heart to live and to die with you.'' 2 Cor. vii. 3. 
 
 I preached twenty-seven times when I was away, 
 in twenty-four different places. I was very, very 
 tired, and my heart has beat too much ever since, but 
 I am wonderfully well. I have "fightings without 
 and fears within" just now. Do pray earnestly for 
 me — as indeed I know you do. I wish you had been 
 with me last night. When I was away, the people 
 agreed to meet twice a week in the lower school- 
 room to pray for me ; and, now that I have come back, 
 
 25* 
 
294 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 we have continued the meetings. The school is quite 
 crammed. Such sweet loud singing of praise I never 
 heard, and many tears. 
 
 I stood by a poor socialist in the agonies of death 
 to-day. He was quite well yesterday. He anxiously 
 wished me to come and pray. to be ready when 
 the Bridegroom comes. 
 
 Farewell. Peace from above fill vour soul, vour 
 friend and brother prays, &c. 
 
 ANOTHER TO ONE BEREAVED. 
 
 Betake yourself to Him that is ever the same. 
 
 Marcli 0th, 1843. 
 
 My Dear , I did not think I would have 
 
 been so long in answering you in your time of sorrow, 
 but I have been more than occupied. I earnestly 
 trust that this sad bereavement may be greatly blessed 
 by God to you. Pray that you may not lose this pre- 
 cious opportunity of giving your hand and heart for 
 ever away to the Lord Jesus. May Hosea ii. 14, be 
 fulfilled in you all. "Behold, I will allure her, and 
 hiding her into the loilderness^ and speak comfortably 
 unto her;" and that clear promise (Ezek. xx. 35 — 37), 
 "I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will 
 bring you into the bond of the covenant." This 
 solemn event shows you what I always used to tell 
 you, how short your life is — what a vapour — how 
 soon the joys that depend on the creatures may be 
 dried up — that " one thing is needful" — and that 
 Mary was wise in choosing the good part luJiich can- 
 not be taken away from her. You remember the 
 first night you were in St. Peter's, I showed you this, 
 preaching from Psalm xvi. 6, " The lines have fallen 
 to ine in pleasant places, and I have a goodly heritage." 
 I am indeed more than ever anxious about you, that 
 you receive not the grace of God in vain. It is the 
 furnace that tries the metal, and it is affliction that 
 tries the soul whether it be Christ's or not. I am 
 jealous over you with a godly jealousy^ lest the 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 295 
 
 luniace should show you to be reprobate silver. Do 
 let me hear how your soul truly is — whether you can 
 see the hand of a Father in this bereavement — and 
 whether you are more tlian ever determined, through 
 grace, to be the Lord's. How sweet, that Jesus ever 
 liveth. He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for 
 ever. You will never find Jesus so precious as when 
 the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then he 
 is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation 
 — a rock rising above the storm. The Bible, too, is 
 more full of meaning. Have you ever prayed over 
 that verse (Lam. iii. 33). ^' He doth not afflict luill- 
 ingly P- precious book, that conveys such a mes- 
 sage to the mourner's dwelling ! And does not trial 
 bring more meaning out of that verse (Romans viii. 
 28), " We know that all things work together for 
 good to them that love God — to them that are the 
 called according to his purpose?'^ The Bible is hke 
 the leaves of the lemon trees ; the more you bruise 
 and wring them the sweeter the fragrance they throw 
 around. " Is any atflicted ? — let him pray." Do you 
 not find that prayer is sweeter now? The soul finds 
 vent for his feelings toward God. " Call upon me 
 in the day of trouble — I will deliver thee, and thou 
 shalt glorify me." When I had my fever abroad, 
 Mr. Bonar whispered that verse into my ear. I had 
 nearly lost all my faculties — I could remember nothing 
 except that I was far from home; but that verse kept 
 sounding in my ears when I was nearly insensible; 
 " I called, and he delivered me." 
 
 Are you preparing to go to the Lord's table next 
 Lord's-day? May you indeed have the wedding 
 garment — righteousness without works — and see the 
 King in his beauty — and give yourself away to him, 
 saying, " 1 am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." 
 It should be a solemn sacrament to you. I can add 
 
 no more. Write me soon, dear G , and tell me 
 
 all that is in your heart, and whether the voice of the 
 Comiforter does not say, "Be still!" when death has 
 left so deep a silence in your family. Believe me 
 ever your friend in Jesus, «&:c. 
 
296 PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 TO ONE COMPLAINING OF THE PLAGUES OF THE HEART. 
 
 Passing on to glor)'. 
 
 St. Peter's, March Sth, 1843. 
 
 My Dear Friend, — I send a few lines to you in 
 answer to yours. You complain of the plague of your 
 own heart, and so you will till you die. You know 
 little yet of its chambers of imagery. All that is ours 
 is sin. Our wicked heart taints all we say and do; 
 hence the need of continual atonement in the blood of 
 Jesus. It is not one pardoning that will serve the 
 need of our souls. We must have daily, hourly par- 
 dons. I believe you are in the furnace, but it is a 
 short one. Soon the bridegroom will come, and we 
 shall be with him, and like him, and God shall wipe 
 away all tears from our eyes. I burst through all the 
 cobwebs of present things, and, his Spirit anointing 
 my eyes, look at Jesus as one beside me. Blessed 
 elder brother, with two natures — God and man — 
 ever-living, never-dying, never-changing ! I was 
 preaching last Sabbath on Heb. ix. 13, 14, "He 
 through the eternal Spirit offered himself." It was 
 very sweet to myself In the afternoon I preached on 
 Rev. ii. 4, 5, " I have this against thee, that thou 
 hast left thy first love." I fear many of my people 
 have done so ; therefore it was very suitable. Several 
 I see have felt it very deeply. In the evening I 
 preached on Psalm Ixxviii. 41 — '-They turned back, 
 and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" 
 — on the sinfulness of limiting God. It was a very 
 sweet and solemn day. Meantime, stay your soul on 
 God. " Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose 
 mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." 
 'A few more trials — a few more tears — a few more 
 days of darkness, and we shall be for ever with the 
 Lord. '' In this tabernacle we groan, being burden- 
 ed." All dark things shall yet be cleared up — all 
 sufferings healed — all blanks supplied, and we shall 
 find fulness of joy (not one drop wanting) in the 
 smile and presence of our God. It is one of the laws 
 of Christ's kingdom, " We must through much tribu- 
 
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE. 297 
 
 lation enter into the kingdom of God." We must 
 not reckon upon a smooth road to glory, but it will 
 be a short one. How glad I am that you have " re- 
 ceived the word in much affliction, with joy of the 
 Holy Ghost." Cleave closely to Jesus, that you may 
 not have to say in a little, " tliat I had affliction 
 back again to quicken me in prayer, and make me lie 
 at his feet." 
 
 Trials make the promise sweet, 
 Trials give new life to prayer; 
 
 Trials bring me to bis feet, 
 
 Lay me low, and keep me there. 
 
 This land will soon be strangely convulsed, if God 
 prevent not. The plans now preparing for carrying 
 the gospel into every corner of the land are sweet 
 indeed. If I be spared and strengthened, I go to 
 London towards the end of April. My stay must be 
 very short. It is also intended to send me to the 
 General Assembly in May. My poor flock ; how I 
 yearn over them ! So many of them careless, and 
 judgment at the door ! Mr. Burns comes to me to- 
 morrow. 
 
 I must add no more, as I have work before me. 
 May you experience more and more that, " When He 
 giveth quietness, none can make trouble" — even as 
 you once experienced the other, " When He hideth 
 his face, who then can behold him ?" Soon we shall 
 see him as he is ; then our trials shall be done. We 
 shall reign with him, and be entirely like him. The 
 angels will know us by our very faces to be brothers 
 and sisters of Jesus. 
 
 Remember Jesus fo?^ ks is all our righteousness 
 before a holy God, and Jesus in us is all our strength 
 in an ungodly world. Persevere ever to death ; 
 eternal life will make up for all. I was reading to- 
 day, " God hath granted repentance unto life." Re- 
 member Barnabas's advice, '^ Cleave to the Lord ;" 
 not to man, but to the Lord. May He perfect all 
 that concerneth you. Do not fear the face of man. 
 Remember how small their anger will appear in 
 eternity. Till then, believe me, your friend in gospel 
 bandS; &.c. 
 
298 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 PASTORAL LETTERS TO THE FLOCK OF ST. PETER'S. 
 
 FIRST PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 [" View of what God hag done — how it should affect them. 
 
 Edinburgh, January 30^7^, 1839. 
 
 To all of you, my dear friends and people, who are 
 beloved of God, and faithful in Christ Jesus, your 
 pastor wishes grace and peace from God the Father 
 and Christ Jesus our Lord.* 
 
 As several of you have expressed a desire to hear 
 from me, and as He who at first sent me to you to 
 bear witness of the Lord Jesus has for many weeks 
 withdrawn me, and still lays his afflicting but gentle 
 hand on me, it has seemed good to me, not without 
 prayer, to write to you from week to week a short 
 word of exhortation. May the Holy Spirit guide the 
 pen, that what is written may be blessed to your com- 
 fort and growth in grace. 
 
 God is my record how greatly I long after you all 
 in the bowels of Jesus Christ ; and the walls of my 
 chamber can bear witness how often the silent watches 
 of the night have been filled up with entreaties to 
 the Lord for you all. I can truly say with John, 
 " that I have no greater joy than to hear that my 
 children walk in the truth ;'^ and though many of you 
 were in Christ before me, and were living branches 
 of the true vine before I was sent into the vineyard, 
 yet believe me it is true of them also, I have no 
 greater joy tlian to know, that you are more and 
 more filled with the Holy Ghost, and bear more and 
 more fruit to the glory of God the Father. " Herein 
 
 * He had bcgfun to correct a copy of these Pastoral Letters for 
 publication, at the earnest request of some of liis friends. Tlie few 
 corrections made are all inserted. Tlie chief alterations are in the 
 fourth of the Pastoral Letters. He had got no farther than tlio 
 seventh. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 299 
 
 is the Father glorified that you bear much fruit. '^ 
 You remember what Paul, when he was a prisoner 
 of the Lord, wrote to the Philippians (i. 12), " I 
 would that ye should understand, brethren, that the 
 things which happened unto me have fallen out rather 
 unto the furtherance of the gospel.'' I am very 
 anxious that you and I should understand the very 
 same, in the things which have happened unto me, that 
 we may vindicate God in all his dealings with us, and 
 '^not despise the chastening of the Lord." I know 
 too well that there are many amongst you who would 
 feel it no grievance if all the Lord's ministers were 
 taken out of the way. Ah! how many are there who 
 would rejoice if they were for ever left to sin unre- 
 proved, and to do what is right in their own eyes. 
 Still I am quite sure that to you, " who have obtained 
 like precious faith with us" — to you, who are the 
 Lord's people, the present is a season of affliction, and 
 you feel, as Naomi felt, that the hand of the Lord has 
 gone out against us. My present object in writing 
 you is shortly to persuade you that " it is well" — " the 
 Lord doeth all things well" — and that it may be 
 really for the furtherance of the gospel among you. 
 In many ways may this be the case. 
 
 First, With respect to myself. It does not become 
 me here to show what benefit it may be to me. Suf- 
 fice it to say, that it has been a precious opportunity 
 in which to reflect on the sins and imperfections of my 
 ministry among you. A calm hour with God is worth 
 a whole lifetime with man. Let it be your prayer 
 that I may come out like gold, that the tin may be 
 taken away, and that I may come back to you, if that 
 be the will of God, a better man, and a more devoted 
 minister. I have much to learn, and these words of 
 David have been often in my heart and on my lips. 
 " I know that thy judgments are right, and that thou 
 in faithfulness hast afflicted me." Psalm cxix. 75. 
 Ministers are God's tools for building up the gospel 
 temple. Now you know well that every wise work- 
 man takes his tools away from the work from time to 
 
300 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 time, that they may be ground and sharpened : so 
 does the only-wise Jehovah take his ministers often- 
 times away into darkness and loneliness and trouble, 
 that he may sharpen and prepare them for harder 
 work in his service. Pray that it may be so with 
 your own pastor. 
 
 Second, With regard to you, my dear brothers and 
 sisters in the Lord, this time of trial is for your further- 
 ance. Does not God teach you, by means of it, to 
 look beyond man to the Saviour, who abideth ever? 
 Is not God showing you that ministers are earthen 
 vessels, easily broken, and fit only to be cast aside 
 like a broken pitcher out of mind? Is he not bidding 
 you look more to the treasure which is in them, 
 and which flows in all its fuhiess from Christ ? It is a 
 sad error into which I see many Christians falling, 
 that of leaning upon man, mistaking friendship to- 
 ward a minister for faith on the Son of God. 
 
 Remember that jjefore Moses was sent to deliver 
 Israel, his hand was made leprous, as white as snow, 
 to teach them that it was not the might of that hand 
 that could deliver Israel. Exod. iv. 6, 7. It has been 
 the fault of some of you to lean too much on man. 
 Now God is teaching you that, though the cistern 
 may break, ih^ fountain abides as open and full and 
 free as ever — that it is not from sitting under any 
 particular ministry that you are to get nourishment, 
 but from being vitally united to Christ. Ministers 
 *•' are not suffered to continue by reason of death, but 
 CArw/, because he continueth ever, hath an unchange- 
 able priesthood.'^ Hebrews vii. 23. 
 
 Third, With regard to those among you who are 
 almost, but not altogether, persuaded to be Christians, 
 does not this providence teach you to make sure of 
 an interest in Christ without delay? You thought 
 you would have the Saviour held up to you for an in- 
 definite number of Sabbaths, little thinking that your 
 Sabbaths and mine are all numbered. Many a time 
 you have said to me in your heart, " Go thy way for 
 this time, when I have a more convenient season I 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 301 
 
 will call for thee." You did not think that a time 
 might come when you may call for your teachers, and 
 thev be silent as the Sfrave. 
 
 I find many godly people here are looking forward 
 to a time when God's faithtul witnesses shall be put 
 to silence, and anxious souls shall wander from sea to 
 sea, seeking the word of God, and shall not find it. 
 Be entreated, wavering souls, to settle the question 
 of your salvation noiv. Wliy halt ye between two 
 opinions ? It is most unreasonable to be undecided 
 about the things of an endless eternity, in such a world 
 as this, with such frail bodies, with such a Saviour 
 stretching out his hand, and such* a Spirit of love 
 striving with you. Remember you are flesh — you 
 will soon hear your last sermon. I call heaven and 
 earth to record this day against you, that I have set 
 belbre you life and death, blessing and cursing, there- 
 fore choose life, that thou and thy seed may live. 
 Dent. XXX. 19. 
 
 Fourth. There is another class who are not of vou, 
 and yet are on every hand of you, ''of whom I have 
 told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that 
 they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose 
 God is their belly, who glory in their shame, who 
 mind earthly things.'^ Ah! you would not believe if 
 I were to tell you the great heaviness and continuaL 
 sorrow that I have in my heart for you ; and yet I 
 hope my absence may be blessed even to you. Just 
 think for a moment if God were to remove your 
 teachers one by one — if he were to suff'er the Church 
 of our covenanted fathers to fall before the hands of 
 her enemies — if he were to suffer Popery again to 
 spread its dark and deadly shade over the land, where 
 would you be? — you that despise the Sabbath, that 
 care little for the preached word — you that have no 
 prayer in your families, and seldom in yom closets — 
 you that are lovers of pleasure — you that wallow in 
 sin ? You would have your wish then — you would 
 have your silent Sabbaths indeed — no warning voice 
 to cry after you — no praying people to pray for you — 
 none to check you in your career of wickedness — none 
 
 26 
 
302 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 to beseech you not to perish. Lean:^'*rom so small a 
 circumstance as the absence of your stated minister 
 what ma}^ be in store for you, and flee now from the 
 wrath to come. *' It may be, ye shall be hid in the 
 day of the Lord's anger." Zeph. ii. 3. 
 
 Finally, My brethren, dearly beloved and longed 
 for, my joy and crown, abide all the more in Christ 
 because of my absence, and maintain a closer walk 
 with God, that when I return, as God gives me good 
 hopes now of doing, I may rejoice to see what great 
 things God has done for your souls. God feeds the 
 wijd flowers on the lonely mountain side, without the 
 help of man, and they are as fresh and lovely as those 
 that are daily watched over in bur gardens. So God 
 can feed his own planted ones without the help of 
 man, by the sweetly falling dew of his Spirit. How 
 I long to see you walking in holy communion with 
 God, in love to the brethren, and burning zeal for the 
 cause of God in the world! I will never rest, nor 
 give God rest, till he make you a lamp that burnetii 
 — a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid. Now 
 strive together with me, in your prayers to God for 
 me, that I may come unto you with joy by the will 
 of God. 
 
 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 
 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 6EC0>'D PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 Past times of privilege reviewed — privileges still remaining. 
 
 Edinburgh, February 6th, 1839. 
 
 To all of you, my dear flock, who have chosen the 
 good part which cannot be taken away, your pastor 
 wishes grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father 
 and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 The sweet singer of Israel begins one of his psalms 
 with these remarkable words — '' I will sing of mercy 
 and judgment; unto thee, God, will I sing." This 
 is the experience of all God's servants in time of trou- 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 303 
 
 ble. Even in the wildest storms the sky is not all 
 dark; and so in the darkest dealings of God with his 
 children, there are always some bright tokens for 
 good. His way with us of late has been ''in the 
 sea, and his path in the deep waters.'^ Yet some of 
 you may have felt that his own hand was leading us 
 like a flock. Psahii Ixxvii. 19, 20. One great token 
 of his loving kindness has been the way in which 
 he has supplied the absence of your stated minister. 
 Ordained messengers, men of faith and prayer, have 
 spoken to you from Sabbath to Sabbath in the name 
 of the Lord. Awakening, inviting, comforting mes- 
 sages you have had; and even your meetings on 
 Thursday evenings he has continued to you; the 
 gates of the house of prayer, like the gates of the city 
 of refuge, have been as open to you as ever, inviting 
 you to enter in and behold by faith what Jacob saw 
 in Bethel, '' the ladder set on earth, and the top of it 
 reaching into heaven," inviting you to meet with Him 
 with whom Jacob wrestled till the breaking of the 
 day. Think how often, in times of persecution, the 
 Apostles were constrained to leave the seed they had 
 sown, without leaving any one to water it but '' the 
 Lord on whom they believed," See Acts xin. 50, 52, 
 and xiv. 23, and xvi. 40. How often, in times of 
 persecution in the Church of Scotland, our faithful 
 pastors had to leave their few sheep in the wilder- 
 ness, without any human shepherd to care for their 
 souls, commending them to God, and to the word of 
 his grace. These times may come again. God may 
 be preparing us for such fiery trials. But he hath 
 not yet dealt so with us. He that tempers the wind 
 to the shorn lamb, and " who stays his rough wind 
 in the day of his east wind," has mingled mercy 
 with judgment ; and even when he humbles us, gives 
 us cause for praise. " Oh, that men would praise the 
 Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to 
 the children of men." Another mark of his loving 
 kindness to us is, his suffering me- to pray for you. 
 You remember how the Apostles describe the work 
 of the ministry. x\cts vi. 4. " We will give our- 
 
304 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 selves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the 
 word.'^ Now, God is my record that this has been 
 my heart's desire ever since my coming among you. 
 I have alwa^^s felt myself a debtor to you all, both to 
 the wise and to the unwise; so as much as in me is I 
 have been ready to preach the gospel unto you ; but 
 God has for a time withdrawn me from that part of 
 the work amongst you. To me that grace is not now 
 given to preach among you the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ. (Oh, how great a grace it is ! how wonderful 
 that it should ever have been given to me !) Still he 
 allows me to give myself unto prayer. Perhaps this 
 may be the chief reason of my exile from you, to 
 teach me what Zechariah was taught in the vision of 
 the golden candlestick and the two olive trees, Zech. 
 i. 4., that it is not by might, nor by power, but by His 
 Spirit, obtained in believing, wrestling prayer, that the 
 temple of God is to be built in our parishes. I have 
 handed my harp upon the willow, and am no more 
 allowed " to open to you dark sayings upon the harp," 
 nor " to speak of the things which I have made 
 touching the King," v\rho is '' fairer than the children 
 of men." Still my soul does not dwell in silence. I 
 am permitted to go in secret to God my exceeding 
 joy ; and, while meditating his praise, I can make 
 mention of you all in my prayers, and give thanks for 
 the little tlock, who, '^' by patient continuance in well- 
 doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality." 
 *^ If I forget tliee, Jerusalem, let my right hand 
 forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let 
 my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer 
 not Jerusalem above my chief joy." I feel it is ano- 
 ther gift of grace, that I am sutfered to write to you. 
 You remember how often the Apostles cheered and 
 strengthened the disciples, when absent from them, 
 by writing to them.^ What a precious legacy to the 
 Church in all ages have these Epistles been ! every 
 verse, like a branch of the tree of life, bearing all 
 
 *2 Cor. vii. 12. Gal. vi. IL 1 Thcs. v. 27. Heb. xiii. 22, 
 1 Peter v. 12. 2 Pet. i. 12-15; iii. 1. I John i. 4. Jude 3, 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 30 5 
 
 manner of frnit, and the leaves for the heahnsr of 
 the nations. Yoa remember how holy Samuel Ru- 
 therford, and many of our persecuted forefathers in 
 the Church of Scotland, kept the flame of grace alive 
 in their deserted parishes bv sending them words of 
 counsel, warning, and encouragement, testifying, not 
 face to face, but with ink and pen, the gospel of the 
 grace of God. I do feel it a great privilege that 
 this door is open to me, and that, even when absent, I 
 can yet speak to you of the things pertaining to the 
 kingdom. 
 
 " This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto 
 you, in both which I stir up your pure minds by way 
 of remembrance ; yea, I think it meet, so long as I 
 am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in 
 remembrance.'^ 
 
 I. Abide in Him, little children, whom I have 
 always preached unto you, that when he shall appear 
 we may have confidence and not be ashamed before 
 him at his coming. I^et every new sight of your 
 wicked heart, and every new wave of trouble, drive 
 your soul to hide in him, the Rock of your Salvation. 
 There is no true peace but in a present hold of the 
 Lord our righteousness. 
 
 II. Enjoy the forgiveness of sins — keep yourselves 
 in the love of God, If you abide in Christ, you shall 
 abide in his love— your joy let no man take from you. 
 " These things write we unto you that your joy may 
 be full." 
 
 III. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. 
 " He that (saith he) abideth in Him ought himself 
 also so to walk even as he walked." Ah, how many 
 falls will I have to mourn over when I return, if God 
 send me back to you — how many unseemly quarrel- 
 ings and miscarriages among you, that are God's own 
 — how many unlovely tempers among those who 
 follow Him who is altogether lovely ! take heed, 
 do not give the enemy cause to blaspheme; naming 
 the name of Christ, depart from all iniquity. 
 
 IV. Continue in prayer. How many messages 
 have been carried to you publicly and from house to 
 
 26* 
 
306 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 house, and yet how httle success. I bless God for all 
 the tokens he has given us that the Spirit of God has 
 not departed from the Church of Scotland — that the 
 glory is still in the midst of her. Still the Spirit has 
 never yet been shed on us abundantly. The many 
 absentees on the forenoon of the Sabbaths — the thin 
 meetings on Thursday evenings — the absence of 7nen 
 from all meetings for the worship of God — the few 
 private prayer meetings — the little love and union 
 among Christians — all show that the plentiful rain has 
 not yet fallen to refresh our corner of the heritage. 
 Why is this? This is the day of Christ's power — 
 why are the people not made willing? Let James 
 give the answer. "Ye have not, because ye ask not." 
 Hitherto ye have aslved nothing in my name. Ask 
 and ye shall receive, that 3^our joy may be full. Fi- 
 nally, dear brethren, farewell. Day and night I long 
 to come to you, but still God hinders me. Do not 
 omit to praise him for all the great grace he has nnn- 
 gled in our cup of bitterness. " Seven times a day do 
 I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." 
 When passing through the waters he has been with 
 us, and in the rivers they have not overflowed us; 
 and, therefore, we may be sure that when we pass 
 through the fire we shall not be burned, neither shall 
 the flames kindle upon us. 
 
 Now, may the God of peace himself give you peace 
 always, by all means, and the grace of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ be with your spirits. Amen. 
 
 THIRD PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 How God works by Providences. 
 
 Edixbl'rgh, February \2th, 1839. 
 
 To all of you, my dear friends and people, who are 
 and shall ever be followers of the Lamb, whither- 
 soever he goeth, your pastor again wishes grace and 
 peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 307 
 
 I long very much that this grace may again be 
 given unto me to preach among you face to face "the 
 unsearchable riches of Christ.'^ " Oftentimes I pur- 
 pose to come unto you, but am let hitherto.'^ Still, I 
 feel it a great privilege that, even in my retirement, 
 I can send you a word to the end that you may be 
 established. I feel as if one door was left open to me 
 by the Lord. Believe me, it is the foremost desire of 
 my heart that Christ may be glorified in you, both 
 now and at his coming — that you may be a happy 
 and a holy people, blessed and made a blessing. For 
 the sake of variety, let me guide your tlioughts to a 
 passage of God's own word, and there I will speak 
 to you as if I were yet present with you, and half 
 forget tliat you are not before me. 
 
 In Job xxhi. 8-10, you wii] find these solemn 
 words — "Behold. I go forward, but he is not there; 
 and backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left 
 hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him; 
 he liideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see 
 him. But he knoweth the way that I take: when he 
 hath tried me I shall come forth as 2:old.'' 
 
 lou all know the afflictions which came upon Job. 
 " He was a perfect and upright man," and the great- 
 est of all the men of the east, yet he lost his oxen and 
 his asses, his sheep and camels, and his ten children 
 in one day. Again, the breath of disease came upon 
 him, and he sat down among the ashes. In all 
 this Job sinned not with his lips. He blessed the 
 hand that smote him — "What! shall we receive 
 good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not re- 
 ceive evil?" And yet, when his troubles were pro- 
 longed, he knew not what to think. Learn how 
 weak the strongest believer is; a bruised reed, with- 
 out Christ, we are, and can do nothing. When Job's 
 brethren dealt decehfully with him " as a brook" — 
 when he felt God hedging him in, and God's arrows 
 drinking up his spirit, then clouds and darkness rested 
 on his path — he could not unravel God's dealings 
 with his soul — then he cried, " Show me wherefore 
 thou contendest with me !" He longed to get an ex- 
 
308 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 planation from God — "0 that I knew where I might 
 find him! that I might come even to his seat! Be- 
 hold I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, 
 but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he 
 doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth him- 
 self on the right hand that I cannot see him." You 
 Iiave here, then, in verses 8th and 9th, a child of 
 light walking in darkness — an afilicted soul seeking, 
 and seeking in vain, to know why God is contending 
 with him. Dear friends, this is not an uncommon 
 case ; even to some of you God's providences often 
 appear inexplicable. I hear that God has been at 
 work among you, and " His way is in the sea." He 
 has tried you in different ways; some of you by the 
 loss of your property, as he tried Job ; some of you 
 by the loss of dear friends ; some by loss of health, so 
 tliat " wearisome nights are appointed you ;" some by 
 the loss of the esteem of friends — aye, even of Chris- 
 tians. " Your inward friends abhor you." Perhaps 
 more than one trouble has come on you at a time 
 — wave upon wave, thorn upon thorn. Before one 
 wound was healed, another came — before the rain 
 was well away ^' the clouds returned." You cannot 
 explain God's dealings with you — you cannot get 
 God to explain them — you have drawn the Saviour's 
 blood and righteousness over your souls, and you 
 know that the Father himself loveth you — you would 
 like to meet him to ask, " Wherefore contendest thou 
 with me?" "Oh that I knew where I might find 
 him." My dear afilicted brethren, this is no strange 
 thing that has happened unto you. Almost every 
 believer is at one time or another brought to feel this 
 ditficulty — " God maketh my heart soft, and the Al- 
 mighty troubleth me." Is it in anger or is it in pure love 
 that he afiiicts me? Am I fleeing from the presence 
 of the Lord, as Jonah fled ? What change would he 
 have wrought in. me? If any of you are thinking 
 thus in your heart, pray over this word in Job. Re- 
 member the word in the xlvi. Psalm, " Be still, and 
 know that I am God." God does many things to 
 teach us that He is God, and to make us wait upon 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 309 
 
 him. And, still further, see in verse 10th what light 
 breaks in upon our darkness — "Bat he knoweth the 
 way that I take: when he hath tried me I shall come 
 forth as gold." 
 
 Observe, ^r^?, ^'He knoweth the way that I take." 
 What sweet comfort there is in these words — He that 
 redeemed me — He that pities me as a father — He who 
 is the only wise God — He whose name is love — "i7e 
 knoweth the way that I take." 
 
 The ungodly ivorld do not know it — the world 
 knoweth us not, even as it knew him not, A stranger 
 doth not intermeddle with the joys or sorrows of a 
 child of God. When the world looks on your grief 
 with unsympathizing eye, 3^ou feel very desolate. 
 ^'•' Your soul is exceedin^lv filled with the scornine of 
 those who are at ease." But why should you? He 
 that is greater than all the world is looking with the 
 intensest interest upon all your steps. 
 
 The most intimate friends do not know the way of 
 an afflicted believer. Your spirit is lonely even 
 among God's children, for your way is hid, and the 
 Lord hath hedged you in. Still, be of good cheer, 
 the Father of all, the best of friends, knows all the 
 way that you take. 
 
 You do not know your own way. God has called 
 you to suffer, and you go like Abraham, not knowing 
 whither you go. Like Israel, going down into the 
 Red Sea, every step is strange to you. Still, be of 
 good cheer, sufferer with Christ! God marks your 
 every step. " The steps of a good man are ordered 
 by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way." He that 
 loves you with an infinite, unchanging love, is leading 
 you by his Spirit and providence. He knows every 
 stone, every thorn in your path. Jesus knows your 
 way. Jesus is afflicted in all your afflictions. '• Fear 
 not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee 
 by my name, thou art mine. When thou passest 
 through the water I will be with thee, and through 
 the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When thou 
 walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, 
 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." 
 
310 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 Second^ " When he hath tried me I shall come forth 
 as gold." This also is precious comfort. There will 
 be an end of your affliction. Christians must have 
 '-' great tribulation," but they come out of it. We must 
 carry the cross, but only for a moment, then comes 
 the crown. I remember one child of God saying, 
 that if it were God's will that she should remain in 
 trials a thousand years, she could not but delight in 
 his will. But this is not asked of us : we are only 
 caUed ^- to suffer a ivhile.^^ There is a set time for 
 putting into the furnace, and a set time for taking out 
 of the furnace. There is a time for pruning the 
 branches of the vine, and there is a time when the 
 husbandman lays aside the pruning hook. Let us 
 wait his time — " he that believeth shall not make 
 haste." God's time is the best time. But shall we 
 come out the same as we went in ? Ah ! no, " we 
 shall come out like gold." It is this that sweetens the 
 bitterest cup ; this brings a rainbow of promise over 
 the darkest cloud. Affliction will certainly purify a 
 believer. How boldly he says it, '' I shall come out 
 like gold." Ah, how much dross there is in every one 
 of you, dear believers, and in your pastor ! "When I 
 would do good evil is present with me.'^ 0, that all 
 the dross may be left behind in the furnace ! What 
 imperfection, what sin, mingles with all we have ever 
 done ! But are we really fruit-bearing branches of 
 the true vine ? then it is certain that when we are 
 pruned we shall bear more fruit. We shall come out 
 like gold. We shall shine more purely as "a diadem 
 in the hand of our God." We shall become purer 
 vessels to hold tlie sweet smelling incense of praise 
 and prayer. We shall become holy golden vessels 
 for the Master's use in time and in eternity. 
 
 To the many among you who have no part nor lot 
 in Christ, I would say, " See here the happiness of 
 being a Christian in time of trouble." It is no small 
 joy to be able to sing the xlvi. Psalm in the dark and 
 cloudy day. I have often told you, and now tell you 
 when I am far from you, " we are journeying to the 
 place of which the Lord hath said, ' I will give it you ;' 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 311 
 
 come then with us, and we will do thee good, for God 
 hath spoken good concerning Israel." 
 
 Finally, Pray that 3^oiir pastor may come out of 
 his trials like gold. All is not gold that glitters. Pray 
 that every thing that is but glittering drops may be 
 taken away, and that, if it be His will, I may come 
 unto you like the fine gold of Ophir. " Continue in 
 prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving, 
 withal praying also for us, that God would open unto 
 us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ." 
 
 My chief comfort concerning you is, that *^my God 
 shall supply all your need according to his riches in 
 glory by Christ Jesus." Brethren, farewell. Be per- 
 fect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, 
 and the God of love and of peace shall be with you. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
 of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be 
 with vou all. Amen. 
 
 FOURTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 God the Answerer of Prayer. 
 
 Edinburgh, February 20th, 1839. 
 
 To all of you, my dear flock, who are chosen in 
 Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy 
 and without blame before him in love, your pastor 
 again wishes grace and peace from God the Father 
 and our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 There are many sweet providences happening to us 
 every day if we would but noticQ them. In the texts 
 which ministers choose, what remarkable providences 
 God often brings about! I have often felt ttiis, and 
 never more than now. Some of you may remember 
 that the last chapter of the Bible which I read to you 
 in the church was 1st Kings xix., where we are told 
 of Elijah going away into the wilderness for forty days 
 and forty nights to the mount of God, where he was 
 taught that it is not by the ivind, nor the earthquake, 
 nor the fire, that God converts souls, but by the still 
 
312 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 small voice of the gospel. May uot this have been 
 graciously intended to prepare us for what has hap- 
 pened ? Another providence some of you may have 
 noticed. For several Thursday evenings before I left 
 you I was engaged in explaining and enforcing the 
 sweet duty of believing prayer. Has not God since 
 taught us the use of these things? — "Trials make the 
 promise sweet'' — " Trials give new life to prayer." 
 Perhaps some of us were only receiving the informa- 
 tion into the head: is not God now impressing it on 
 our hearts, and driving us to practise the things which 
 we learned ? I do not now remember all the points I 
 was led to speak upon to you, but one, I think, was 
 entirely omitted — I mean the subject of answers to 
 prayer. God left it for us to meditate on now. 0, 
 there is nothing that I would have you to be more 
 sure of than this, that " God hears and answers pray- 
 er." There never was, and never will be, a believing 
 prayer left unanswered. Meditate on this, and you 
 will say, " I love the Lord because he hath heard my 
 voice and my supplica'tion." Psalm cxvi. 1. 
 
 First, God often gives the very thing his children 
 ask at the very time they ask it. You remember 
 Hannah, (Samuel i. 10,) she was in bitterness of soul, 
 and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. '•' Give 
 unto thine handmaid a man child." This was her 
 request. And so she went in peace, and the God of 
 Israel heard and granted her her petition that she had 
 asked of him; and she called the child's name Samuel, 
 that is, "Asked of God." that you could write the 
 same name upon all your gifts! you would have far 
 more joy in them, and far larger blessings along with 
 them. You remember David, in Psalm cxxxviii. — 
 "/;i the day that I cried thou answeredst me, and 
 strengthenedst me with strength in my soul." You 
 remember Elijah, 1 Kings xvii. 21 — "0 Lord, my 
 God ! I pray thee let this child's soul come into him 
 again. And the Lord heard the voice of Ehjah, and 
 the soul of the child came into him again, and he 
 revived." You remember Daniel, ix. 20, 21 — " While 
 I IV as speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 313 
 
 and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my 
 supplication before the Lord my God for the holy 
 mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in 
 prayer, even the man Gabriel, being caused to fly 
 swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening 
 oblation." what encouragement is here for those 
 among you who, like Daniel, are greatly beloved — 
 wiio study much in the books of God's word, and who 
 set your face unto the Lord to seek by prayer gifts 
 for the Church of God ! Expect answers while you 
 are speaking in prayer. Sometimes the vapours that 
 ascend the morning come down in copious showers iii 
 the evening. So may it be with your prayers. Take 
 up the words of David, Psalm v. 3, " My voice shalt 
 thou hear in the morning; in the morning will I direct 
 my prayer unto thee, and will look up." You re- 
 member, in Acts xu., Peter was cast into prison, "but 
 prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto 
 God for him," and, behold, the same night the answer 
 surprised them at the door. 0! what surprises of 
 goodness and grace God has in store for you and me, 
 if only we pray without ceasing. If you will pray in 
 union to Jesus, having childlike confidence towards 
 God — having the spirit of adoption, crying Abba with- 
 in you — seeking the glory of God more than all per- 
 sonal benefits, I believe that in all such cases you will 
 get the very thing you ask, at the very tijne you ask 
 it. Before you call God will hear, and while you are 
 speaking he will answer. 0, if there were twenty 
 among you who would pray thus, and persevere 
 therein like wrestling Jacob, you would get whatever 
 you ask! yea, the case of Daniel shows that the effec- 
 tual fervent prayer of one such believer among you 
 will avail much. " Delight thyself in the Lord, and 
 he shall give the§ the desires of thy heart." Psalm 
 xxxvu. 4. 
 
 Second, God often delays the answer to prayer for 
 wise reasons. The case of the Syrophenician woman 
 will occur to you all, Matt. xv. 21-28. How anx- 
 iously she cried, " Have mercy on me, Lord, thou 
 Son of David. But Jesus answered her not a word." 
 
 27 
 
314 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 Again and again she prayed, and got no gracious 
 answer. Her faith grows stronger by every refusal. 
 She cried, she followed, she kneeled to him, till Jesus 
 could refuse no longer. "0 woman, great is thy faith. 
 Be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Dear praying 
 people, " continue in prayer, and watch in the same 
 with thanksgivings." Do not be silenced by one 
 refusal. Jesus invites importunity by delaying to 
 answer. Ask, seek, knock. " The promise may be 
 long delayed, but cannot come too late." You remem- 
 ber, in the parable of the importunate widow, it is 
 said, " Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry 
 day and night unto him, though he bear long with 
 them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily." 
 Luke xviii. 1-8. This shows how you, who are 
 God's children, should pray. You should cry day and 
 night unto God. This shows how God hears every 
 one of your cries, in the busy hour of the day-time, 
 and in the lonely watches of the night. He treasures 
 them up from day to day: soon the full answer will 
 come down. ^'He will answer speedily." The pray- 
 ing souls beneath the altar, in Rev. vi. 9-11, seem to 
 show the same truth, that the answer to a believer's 
 prayers may, in the adorable wisdom of God, be 
 delayed for a little season, and that many of them 
 may not be fully answered till after he is dead. 
 Again, read that wonderful passage. Rev. viii. 3, 
 where it is said that the Lord Jesus, the great Inter- 
 cessor with the Father, offers to God the incense of 
 his merits, with the prayers of all saints, upon the 
 golden altar which is before the throne. Christ never 
 loses one believing prayer. The prayers of every 
 believer, from Abel to the present day, he heaps upon 
 the altar, from which they are continually ascending 
 before his Father and our Father; and when the altar 
 can hold no more, the full, the eternal answer will 
 come down. Do not be discouraged, dearly beloved, 
 because God bears long with you — because he does 
 not seem to answer your prayers. Your prayers are 
 not lost. When the merchant sends his ships to dis- 
 tant shores, he does not expect them to come back 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 31 5 
 
 richly laden in a single day — he has long patience. 
 " It is good that a man should both hope and quietly 
 wait for the salvation of the Lord." Perhaps your 
 prayers will come back, like the ships of the merchant, 
 all the more heavily laden with blessings because of 
 the delay. 
 
 Third, God often answey^s prayer hy terrible 
 things. So David says, in Psalm Ixv., ^'By terrible 
 things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, God of 
 our salvation." And all of you who are God's chil- 
 dren have found it true. Some of you have expe- 
 rienced what John Newton did when he wrote that 
 beautiful hymn, '' I asked the Lord that I might 
 grow."* You prayed with all your heart, "Lord, 
 increase my faith." In answer to this, God has shown 
 you the misery of your connexion with Adam. He 
 has revealed the hell that is in your heart. You are 
 amazed, confounded, abashed. You cry, " wretched 
 man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body 
 of this death?" You cleave to a Saviour God with 
 a thousand times greater anxiety. Your faith is in- 
 creased. Your prayer is answered by terrible things. 
 Some of us prayed for a praying spirit, " Lord teach 
 us to pray." God has laid affliction upon us. Waves 
 and billows go over us. We cry out of the depths. 
 Being afflicted, we pray. He has granted our heart's 
 desire. Our prayer is answered by terrible things. 
 
 Fourth, God sometimes answers prayer by giving 
 something better than we ask. An affectionate father 
 on earth often does this. The child says, Father, 
 give me this fruit. No, my child (the father replies,) 
 but here is bread, which is better for you. So the 
 Lord Jesus dealt with his beloved Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 
 7-9. There was given to Paul a thorn in the flesh, 
 a messenger of Satan to buffet him. In bitterness 
 of heart, he cried, "Lord, let this depart from me." 
 No answer came. Again he prayed the same words. 
 No answer still. A third time he knelt, and now the 
 answer came, not as he expected. The thorn is not 
 
 * Olney Hymns, book iii. hymn 36. 
 
316 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 plucked away — the messenger of Satan is not driven 
 back to hell ; but Jesns opens wide his more loving 
 breast, and says, " My grace is sufficient for thee, for 
 my strength is made perfect in weakness.'* 1 this is 
 something exceeding abundant above all that he asked, 
 and all that he thought. Ah, this is something better 
 than he asked, and better than he thought. Surely 
 God is able to do " exceeding abundantly above all 
 that we ask or think." Ephes. iii. 20. Dear praying 
 believers, be of good cheer. God will either give you 
 what you ask, or something far better. Are you not 
 quite willing that he should choose for you and me? 
 You remember that even Jesus prayed, " Oh my 
 Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." 
 That desire was not granted, but there appeared unto 
 him an angel from heaven strengthening him. Luke 
 xxii. 43. He received what was far better, strength 
 to drink the cup of vengeance. Some of you, my 
 dear believing flock, have been praying that, if it be 
 God's will, I might be speedily restored to you, that 
 God's name might be glorified ; and I have been 
 praying the same. Do not be surprised if he should 
 answer our prayers by giving us something above 
 what we imagined. Perhaps he may glorify himself 
 by us in another way than we thought. ^' ! the 
 depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge 
 of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and 
 his ways past finding out ! For of him, and through 
 him, and to him, are all things. To whom be glory 
 for ever. Amen." 
 
 These things I have written that you may come 
 boldly to the throne of grace. The Lord make you 
 a praying people. " Strive together with me in your 
 prayers to God for me." " I thank my God upon 
 every remembrance of you, always in every prayer 
 of mine for you all, making request with joy." 
 
 Now, the God of patience and consolation grant 
 you to be like-minded one towards another, according 
 to Christ Jesus. " The God of hope fill you with all 
 joy and peace in. believing ;" and the God of peace 
 be with you all. Amen. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 317 
 
 FIFTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 What God has done, and the returns made. — Isaiah v. 4. 
 
 Edinburgh, February 21th, 4839. 
 
 To all of you, my dear flock, who are washed, and 
 sanctified, and justified, in the name of the Lord 
 Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God, your pastor again 
 wishes grace, mere}'', and peace. 
 
 This is now the fifth time I am permitted by God 
 to write to you. If you are not wearied, it is plea- 
 sant and refreshing to me. I Avish to be like Epa- 
 phras, Coloss. iv. 12 — "Always labouring fervently 
 for you in prayer, that you may stand perfect and 
 complete in all the will of God." When I am hin- 
 dered by God from labouring for you in any other 
 way, it is my heart's joy to labour for you thus. When 
 Dr. Scott of Greenock, a good and holy minister, was 
 laid aside by old age from preaching for some years 
 before his death, he used to say — " I can do nothing 
 for my people now but pray for them, and sometimes 
 I feel that I can do that.'' This is what I also love 
 to feel. Often I am like Amelia Geddie, who lived 
 in the time of the Covenanters, and of whom I used 
 to tell you. The great part of my time is taken up 
 with bringing my heart into tune for prayer ; but 
 when the blessed Spirit does help my infirmities, it 
 is my greatest joy to lay myself and you, my flock, in 
 his hand, and to pray that God may yet make " the 
 vine to flourish and the pomegranate to bud." 
 
 If you turn to Isaiah v. 4, you will find these 
 aff'ecting words — " What could have been done more 
 to my vineyard, that I have not done in it ? where- 
 fore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, 
 brought it forth wild grapes.^" 
 
 Consider these words, my dear people, and may 
 the Spirit breathe over them that they may savingly 
 impress your souls. These words are God's pathetic 
 lamentation over his ancient people, when he thought 
 of all that he had done for them, and of the sad return 
 which they made to him. We have come into the 
 
 27* 
 
318 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 place of Israel; the natural branches of the good 
 oUve tree have been broken off, and we have been 
 grafted in. All the advantages God gave to Israel 
 are now enjoyed by us; and ah! has not God occa- 
 sion to take up the same lamentation over us, that we 
 have brought forth only wild grapes? I would wish 
 every one of you seriously to consider what more God 
 could have done to save your soul that he has not 
 done. But, ah! consider again whether you have 
 borne grapes, or only wild grapes. 
 
 Firsts Consider how much God has done to save 
 your souls. He has provided a great Saviour, and a 
 great salvation. He did not give man or angel, but 
 the Creator of all, to be the substitute of sinners. His 
 blood is precious blood. His righteousness is the 
 righteousness of God; and now "to him that worketh 
 not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, 
 his faith is counted to him for righteousness," Romans 
 iv. 5. Most precious word. Give up your toil, self- 
 justifying soul. You have gone from mountain to 
 hill — vou have forgotten your resting-place — change 
 your plan. Work not, but believe on Him that justi- 
 fieth the ungodly. Believe the record that God hath 
 given concerning his son. A glorious, all perfect, 
 all divine surety is laid down at your feet. He is 
 within your reach — he is nigh thee — take him, and 
 live; refuse him, and perish! "What could have 
 been done more for my vineyard, that I have not 
 done in it?" 
 
 Second, Again, consider the ordinances God has 
 given you. He has made you into a vineyard. Scot- 
 land is the iikest of all lands to God's ancient Israel. 
 How wonderfully has God planted and maintained 
 godly ministers in this land from the time of Knox to 
 the present day ! He has divided the whole land into 
 parishes; even on the barren hills of our country he 
 has planted the choicest vine. Hundreds of godly 
 labourers he has sent to gather out the stones of it. 
 God has done this for you also. He has built a tower 
 in the midst of you. Have you not seen his own hand 
 fencing you round — building a gospel tower in the 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 319 
 
 midst of you, and a gospel vine-press therein? And 
 has he not sent me among you, who am less than the 
 least of all the members of Christ, and yet '^ deter- 
 mined not to know any thing among you save Jesus 
 Christ, and him crucified ?'' Has not the Spirit of 
 God been sometimes present in our sanctuary? have 
 not some hearts been filled there with gladness more 
 than in the time that their corn and wine increased ? 
 Have not some hearts tasted there the *^love that is 
 better than wine?" "What could have been done 
 more for my vineyard that I have not done in it?" 
 Now, let me ask, what fruit have we borne — grapes or 
 wild grapes ? Ah ! I fear the most can show nothing 
 but wild grapes. If God looks down upon us as a 
 parish^ what does he see ? Are there not still a 
 thousand souls utter strangers to the house of God ? 
 How many does his holy eye now rest upon who 
 are seldom in the house of prayer, who neglect it 
 in the forenoon ! How many who frequent the 
 tavern on the Sabbath-day! 0! why do they bring 
 forth wild grapes? If God looks upon you as fmni- 
 lies, what does he see? How many prayerless fami- 
 lies ! How often, as I passed your windows, late at 
 eve or at early dawn, have I listened for the melody 
 of psalms, and listened all in vain! God also has 
 listened, but still in vain. How many careless parents 
 does his pure eye see among 3^ou, who will one day, 
 if you turn not, meet your neglected children in an 
 eternal hell! How many undutiful children! How 
 many unfaithful servants? Ah! v/hy such a vineyard 
 of wild grapes? If God looks on you as individual 
 souls, how many does he see that were never awak- 
 ened to real concern about your souls! How many 
 that never shed a tear for your perishing soul ! How 
 many that were never driven to pray! How many 
 that know not what it is to bend the knee ! How 
 many that have no uptaking of Christ, and are yet 
 cold-hearted and at ease! How many does God 
 know among you that have never laid hold of the 
 only sure covenant! How many that have no "peace 
 in believing," and yet cry " peace, peace, when there 
 
320 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 is no peace!" Jer. viii. 11. How many does God 
 see among you who have no change of heart and Ufe, 
 who are given up to the sins of the flesh and of the 
 mmd! and yet you ^' bless yourself in your heart, 
 saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the ima- 
 gination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst." 
 Deut. xxix. 19. Ah! why do you thus bring forth 
 wild grapes ? " Your vine is of the vine of Sodom, 
 and of the fields of Gomorrah : your grapes are grapes 
 of gall : your clusters are bitter." Deut. xxxii. 32. 
 Ah! remember you will blame yourselves to all eter- 
 nity for your own undoing. God washes his hands 
 of your destruction. What could have been done 
 more for you that God has not done ? I take you all 
 to record this day, if I should never speak to you 
 again, that I am pure from the blood of you all. 
 barren fig trees, planted in God's vineyard, the Lord 
 has been digging at your roots; and if ye bear fruit, 
 well; if not, then ye shall be cut down! Luke xiii. 
 6—9. 
 
 Now, I turn for a moment to you who are God's 
 children. I am persuaded better things of you, my 
 dearly beloved, and things that accompany salvation, 
 though I thus speak. Yet, what need is there, in 
 these trying times, to search your heart and life, and 
 ask, what fruit does God find in me ? 
 
 What fruit oi self-abasement is there in you? Have 
 you found out the evil of your connexion with the 
 first Adam? Rom. v. 19. Do you know the plagues 
 of your own heart? 1 Kings viii. 38. The hell of cor- 
 ruption that is there? Jer. xvii. 9. Do you feel you 
 have never lived one moment to his glory ? Rom. iii. 
 25. Do you feel that to all eternity you never can be 
 justified by anything in yourself? Rev. vii. 14. 
 
 Consider, again, what fruit there is of believing, in 
 you. Have you really and fully uptaken Christ as 
 the gospel lays him down? John v. 12. Do you 
 cleave to him as a sinner? 1 Tim. i. 15. Do you 
 count all things but loss, for the excellency of the 
 knowledge of him? Mat. ix. 9. Do you feel the glory 
 of his person? Rev. i. 17. His finished work? Heb. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 321 
 
 ix. 26. His offices? 1 Cor. i. 30. Does he shine like 
 tlie snn into your soul ? Mai. iv. 2. Is your heart 
 ravished with his beauty? Song v. 16. 
 
 Jigain: what fruit is there in you oi crying after 
 holiness? Is this the one thing you do? Phil. iii. 13. 
 Do you spend your life in cries for deliverance from 
 this body of sin and death? Rom. vii. 24. Ah ! I fear 
 there is little of this. The most of God's people are 
 contented to be saved from the hell that is tuithoiit. 
 They are not so anxious to be saved from the hell 
 that is ivithin. I fear there is little feeling of your 
 need of the indwelling Spirit. I fear you do not know 
 "the exceeding greatness of his power" to us-ward 
 who believe. I fear many of you are strangers to 
 the visits of the Comforter. God has reason to com- 
 plain of you, " wherefore should they bring forth 
 wild grapes?" 
 
 Again : what fruit is there of actual likeness to 
 God in you ? Do you love to be much with God ? 
 " To climb up near to God — Genesis, v. 22 — to love, 
 and long, and plead, and wrestle, and stretch after 
 him?"'* Are you weaned from the world? — Psal. 
 cxxxi. — from its praise — from its hatred — from its 
 scorn ? Do you give yourselves clean away to God 
 — 2 Cor. viii. 5 — and all that is yours? Are you 
 willing that your will should be lost in his great will? 
 Do you throw yourselves into the arms of God for 
 time and for eternity ? 0, search your hearts and 
 try them, ask God to do it for you, and " to lead you 
 in the way everlasting !" Psa. cxxxix. 23, 24. 
 
 I am deeply afraid that many of us may be like the 
 fig-tree by the way-side, on which the hungry Saviour 
 expected to find fruit and he found none. Ah ! we 
 have been an ungrateful vine, minister and people ! 
 What more could God have done for us ? Sunshine 
 and shade — rain and wind — have all been given us; 
 goodness and severity have both been tried with us, — 
 yet what has been returned to him ? Whether have 
 the curses or the praises been louder rising from our 
 
 * See Brainerd's Diary, Part ii., April 4. 
 
322 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 parish to heaven ? Whether does our parish more 
 resemble the garden of the Lord, or the howhng 
 wilderness ? Whether is there more of the perpetual 
 incense of believing pra3^er, or the " smoke in God's 
 nose" of hypocrisy and broken sacraments? 
 
 " I write not these things to shame you, but as my 
 beloved sons I warn you." If there be some among 
 you, and some there are, who are growing up like the 
 lily, casting forth their roots like Lebanon, and bear- 
 ing fruit with patience, remember ^' the Lord loveth 
 the righteous." He that telleth the number of the 
 stars taketh pleasure in you ; " the Lord taketii 
 pleasure in his people ; he will beautify the meek with 
 salvation." Keep yourselves in the love of God. Go 
 carefully through all the steps of your effectual calling 
 a second time. 
 
 The Lord give you daily faith. Seek to have a 
 large heart. Pray for me, that a door of utterance 
 may be opened to me. Remember my bonds. Pray 
 that I may utterly renounce myself, that I may be 
 willing to do and to suffer all his will up to the latest 
 breath! 
 
 May you all obtain mercy of the Lord now, and in 
 that day to which we are hastening. The grace of 
 the Lord Jesus be with your spirits. Amen. 
 
 SIXTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 Sclf-dcvotedness— what it ought to be. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 6, 1839. 
 
 To all my dear flock over which the Holy Ghost 
 hath made me overseer — to all of you who are of the 
 Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own 
 blood — your pastor wishes grace, mercy, and peace. 
 
 I thank my God Avithout ceasing that ever I was 
 ordained over you in the Lord. For every shower of 
 the Spirit that ever has been shed upon us — for every 
 soul among you that has ever been added to the 
 Church — for every disciple among you whose soul has 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 323 
 
 been confirmed during our ministry, I will praise God 
 eternally. May this letter be blessed to you by the 
 breathing of the Holy Spirit. May it teach you and 
 me more than ever that we "are not our own, but 
 bought with a price." 
 
 The most striking examplejof self-devotedness in 
 the cause of Christ which I ever heard in these days 
 of deadness, was told here last week by an English 
 minister. It has never been printed, and therefore I 
 will relate it to you just as I heard it, to stir up our 
 cold hearts, that we may give our ownselves unto the 
 Lord. 
 
 The awful disease of leprosy still exists in Africa. 
 Whether it be the same leprosy as that mentioned in 
 the Bible I do not know, but it is regarded as per- 
 fectly inciirahle^ and so infectious that no one dares 
 to come near the leper. In the south of Africa there 
 is a large lazarhouse for lepers. It is an immense 
 space, enclosed by a very high wall, and containing 
 fields, which the lepers cultivate. There is only one 
 entrance, which is strictly guarded. Whenever any 
 one is found with the marks of leprosy upon him, he 
 is brought to this gate and obHged to enter in, never 
 to return. No one who enters in by that awful gate 
 is ever allowed to come out again. Within this abode 
 of misery there are multitudes of lepers in all stages 
 of the disease. Dr. Halbeck, a missionary of the 
 Church of England, from the top of a neighbouring 
 hill, saw them at work. He noticed two particularly, 
 sowing peas in the field. The one had no hands, the 
 other had no feet — these members being wasted away 
 by disease. The one who wanted the hands was car- 
 rying the other who wanted the feet upon his back, 
 and he again carried in his hands the bag of seed, and 
 dropped a pea every now and then, which the other 
 pressed into the ground with his foot — and so they 
 managed the work of one man between the two. Ah ! 
 how little we know of the misery that is in the world. 
 Such is this prison-house of disease. But you will 
 ask, who cares for the souls of the hapless inmates? 
 
324 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 Who will venture to enter in at this dreadful gate, 
 never to return again? Who will forsake father and 
 mother, houses and land, to carry the message of a 
 Saviour to these poor lepers ? Two Moravian mis- 
 sionaries, impelled by a divine love for souls, have 
 chosen the lazarhouse as their field of labour. They 
 entered it never to come out again; and I am told that 
 as soon as these die other Moravians are quite ready 
 to fill their place. Ah ! my dear friends, may we not 
 blush, and be ashamed before God, that we, redeemed 
 with the same blood, and taught by the same Spirit, 
 should yet be so unhke these men in vehement, heart- 
 consuming love to Jesus and the souls of men } 
 
 I wish now to mention to you a proposal which 
 deeply involves the happiness of you and me, and of 
 which I believe most of you have already heard some- 
 thing. ! that you would trace the Lord's hand in it. 
 O ! that you " would be still, and know that he is God." 
 Let me go over some of the ways by which God has 
 led. us hitherto. When I came to you at the first it 
 was not of my seeking. I never had been in your 
 town, and knew only one family in it. I did not ask 
 to be made a candidate. I was quite happy where I 
 was labouring in the Lord's work. God turned your 
 hearts to ask me to settle among you. It was the 
 Lord's doing. Since that day "ye know after what 
 manner I have been with you at all seasons," and 
 how, as far as God gave me light and strength,"! 
 have kept nothing back that was profitable unto you, 
 but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, 
 and from house to house." Ye know, also, some of 
 you, in your blessed experience, that God has given 
 testimony to the word of his grace, so that " our gos- 
 pel came not to you in word only, but in power, and 
 in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." 
 
 It is indeed amazing how God should have blessed 
 the word when there was so much weakness and so 
 much sin. But " who is a God like unto our God, that 
 pardoneth hiiquity, and passes by the transgressions 
 of the remnant of his heritage?" We planted and 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 305 
 
 watered, and God gave the increase. Ye are God's 
 husbandry — ye are God's building. To him be the 
 glory. 
 
 You know also that I have had some painful trials 
 among you. The state of the mass of unconverted 
 souls among you has often made my heart bleed in 
 secret. The coldness and worldliness of vou who are 
 God's children has often damped me. The impossi- 
 bility of fully doing the work of a minister of Christ, 
 among so many souls, was a sad burden to me. The 
 turning back of some that once cared for their souls 
 pierced my heart with new sorrows. Still, I have 
 had two years of great joy among you — unspeakable 
 joy — in seeing souls added to the church of such as 
 shall be saved. I may never be honoured to preach 
 again, yet still to all eternity I shall praise God that 
 he sent me to you — '• For what is our hope, or joy, or 
 crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are 
 our glory and joy." 1 Thessal. ii. 19,20. And should 
 I lightly break up such a connection as this? Ah, no! 
 My dear friends, I do not need all your affectionate 
 letters to persuade me, that, if it were the Lord's will, 
 my own vineyard is the happiest place in the world 
 for me to be. Again and again other vineyards were 
 offered to me, and I was asked to leave you; but I 
 never for a moment listened to one of them, for ye 
 were the seal of my ministry; and where could I be 
 happier than where the Lord had blessed me, and 
 was still blessing me? But God sent another message 
 to me. He laid a heavy hand upon my body; I long 
 struggled against it, but it was too much for me. For 
 two months I have been an exile from you, and I have 
 felt all the time like a widower, or like Jacob bereaved 
 of his children. My constant prayer was, that I might 
 be restored to you, and to the Lord's service. You 
 prayed the same, and when it was not answered, I 
 cried, '' Wherefore contendest thou with me?" That 
 word was sent in answer — " My son, despise not thou 
 the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his 
 correction." Prov. iii. n. God seems plainly to shut 
 
 28 
 
326 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 the door against my returning to you at present. I 
 am greatly better, yet still I am forbidden to preach. 
 I am not even allowed to conduct the family devotions 
 morning and evening; indeed, whenever I exert my- 
 self much in conversation, I soon feel the monitor 
 within warning me how frail I am. 
 
 In these circumstances, the General Assembly's 
 Committee on the Jews have this day resolved that 
 your pastor, accompanied by Dr. Black of Aberdeen, 
 and my beloved friend, Andrew Bonar of Collace,* 
 should travel for the next six months, to make per- 
 sonal inquiry after the lost sheep of the house of 
 Israel. 
 
 They propose that we should go without delay to 
 the Holy Land — that we should then return by 
 Smyrna, Constantinople, Poland, Germany, and Hol- 
 land. Now, I did not seek this appointment — I 
 never dreamed of such a thing. "But he that hath 
 the key of David, he that openeth and no man shut- 
 teth, and shutteth and no man openeth," he has 
 thrown open this door to me, while he keeps the 
 door of return to you still shut. My medical men 
 are agreed that it is the likeliest method of restoring 
 my broken health, and that I have strength enough 
 for the journey. You know how my heart is engaged 
 in the cause of Israel, and how the very sight of 
 Immanuel's land will revive my fainting spirit. And 
 if it be the will of God, I shall return to you, my 
 beloved flock, to tell you all that I have seen, and to 
 lead you in the way to the Jerusalem that is above. 
 
 I cannot tell you how many providences have been 
 sent to me, every one convincing me, that it is God's 
 will and purpose I should go. 
 
 The most cheering one to me is, that a young man 
 has nearly consented to fill my place, and feed your 
 souls during my absence, who is every thing I could 
 wish, and who will make you almost forget that you 
 want your own pastor. Nay, whatever happens, I 
 
 * The Rev. Dr. Keith, of St. Cyrus, had not at that time joined the 
 Deputation. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 327 
 
 hope you will never forget me, but remember me iu 
 your families, and remember me in your secret 
 prayers. You are all graven on my heart — I never 
 can forget you. How wonderful have been God's 
 dealings with us ! For many reasons he has sent 
 this affliction on us — for sin in me, for sin in you; but 
 also, I am persuaded, that he might seek after ^' the 
 dearly beloved of his soul," that are now in the hand 
 of their enemies. His way is in the sea — his name 
 is wonderful. I grieve to write so much about my- 
 self I had far rather speak to you of ^^ Him who is 
 fairer than the children of men." May you look 
 beyond all ministers to Him — may he be your guide 
 even unto death ! Once again I hope to write before 
 I leave my home and my country. Till then, may 
 all grace abound toward you, and peace be upon 
 Israel. Amen. 
 
 SEVENTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 Unexpected calls to labour — Parting counsels to believers. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 13iA, 1839. 
 
 To all of you who are my brethren, and my com- 
 panions in tribulation, and in the kingdom and pa- 
 tience of our Lord Jesus Christ, your pastor wishes 
 grace, mercy, and peace. 
 
 It gives me great joy to address you once more; 
 and if I could only grave on your heart some of those 
 words which make wise unto salvation, my time and 
 labour would be amply repaid. The providences of 
 every day convince me that I have followed not my 
 own will, but God's, in leaving you for a time. If 
 the Lord permit, I shall come to you again, and, I 
 trust, more fully taught by the Spirit — a holier, hap- 
 pier, and a more useful minister. I did not know 
 when I last preached to you that I was to be so long 
 parted from you; and though I felt a solemn tender- 
 ness stealing over my soul which I could not well ac- 
 count for, and eternity seemed very near, and your 
 souls seemed very precious, yet the Lord was " lead- 
 
328 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 ing the blind by a way which we knew not." I have 
 been searching God's word to find examples of this, 
 and 1 find them very many. 
 
 You remember Abraham^ how he was living quiet- 
 ly in his father's house, in Ur of the Chaldees, when 
 the Lord appeared to him, and said, " Get thee out of 
 thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy 
 father's house unto a land that I will show thee." 
 Gen. xii. 1. And he went out, not knowing whither 
 he went. You remember Jacob ; his mother said un- 
 to him, " Arise, flee thou to Laban, my brother, to 
 Haran, and tarry with him a few days.^' But the 
 Lord meant it otherwise; and it was twenty years be- 
 fore Jacob came back again. Gen. xxvii. 43. You 
 remember Joseph; his father sent him a message to 
 his brethren. Gen. xxxvii. 14. "Go, I pray thee, 
 see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well 
 with the flocks, and bring me word again." He ex- 
 pected to see him return in a few days; but God had 
 another purpose with him. It was more than twenty 
 years before he saw the face of Joseph again, till he 
 said, "It is enough, Joseph, my son, is yet alive; I 
 will go and see him before I die." 
 
 You will find the same method of dealing in the 
 New Testament. How httle Peter knew that morn- 
 ing when he went up to the house top to pray, that 
 he was that very day to be sent away to open the 
 door of faith to the Gentiles, Acts x. 9; and yet God 
 said to him, " Arise, get thee down, and go witii them, 
 nothing doubting," verse 20. Again, you remember 
 Barnabas and SaiiJ, how happily they were engaged 
 with the brethren at Antioch ministering to the Lord 
 and fasting. Little did they think that the next day 
 they would be saihng away to carry the gospel to 
 other lands. As they ministered to the Lord and 
 fasted, the Holy Ghost said, " Separate me Barnabas 
 and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. 
 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their 
 hands on them, they sent them away. Acts xiii. 2, 13. 
 
 Once more, when Paul had preached the gospel in 
 all the cities of Asia, and was come to Troas, on the 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 329 
 
 sea coast, how little did he think that night when he 
 laid his head upon his pillow, that, by the next day 
 morning, the swift ship would be carrying him across 
 the seas, to bear the message of salvation to another 
 continent. " A vision appeared to Paul in the night: 
 There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, 
 saying, come over into Macedonia and help us. And 
 after he had seen the vision immediately we endea- 
 voured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that 
 the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto 
 them.'^ Acts xvi. 9, 10. 
 
 Now has not God dealt with us in a similar man- 
 ner? Although we are nothing in ourselves but evil 
 and hell-deserving creatures ; yet, when accepted in 
 the beloved, God cares for us. ! we err, not know- 
 ing the Scriptures, nor the power of God, when we 
 think that God is indifferent to the least of all that 
 are in Christ. We are fastened on the Redeemer's 
 shoulder. We are graven on his breastplate, and. 
 that is on the Redeemer's heart. Surely he hath 
 directed our steps. " 0, the depth of the riches both 
 of the wisdom and the knowledge of God." In other 
 circumstances, I suppose, I would not have listened to 
 this proposal. I could not have torn myself away 
 had I been in strength and usefulness among you, and 
 indeed the expedition probably would never have 
 been thou2:ht of. 
 
 But God, who chose Israel to be his peculiar trea- 
 sure, can easily open up ways when his set time is 
 come. I parted from you only for a few days; but 
 God meant otherwise, and he will make it his own 
 fixed time. And now, behold, I know that there 
 are some of you among whom I have gone preaching 
 the kingdom of God, who "shall see my face no 
 more.'^ " He that keepeth Israel" may preserve 
 your pastor under his almighty feathers. I know 
 you will pray for me as you have done in secret, and 
 in your families, and in your meetings for prayer, 
 "that the sun may not smite me by day, nor the moon 
 by night;" but, if I should come back again, will I 
 find you all where I left you? Alas ! I know it can- 
 
 2S^ 
 
330 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 not be so, " For Avhat is your life ? It is even a 
 vapour;" and God is still crying, " Return, return, ye 
 children of men." 
 
 For some among you, I give thanks unto the 
 Father that he hath made you meet to be partakers 
 of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. i. 12. 
 There are some among you from whom I have learned 
 more than I taught you, "who have been succourers 
 of many, and of myself also," Rom. xvi. 2, and who 
 have often reminded me of corn, when it was fully 
 ripe. Shall we be surprised if the Son of Man puts 
 in the sickle? Rev. xiv. 13, 16. Dear advanced 
 behevers, we may never meet again. I feel it almost 
 wrong to pray that ye may be kept to comfort us on 
 our return. It is wrong to grudge you " an entrance 
 into perfect day," where you shall lay aside that body 
 of death and sin which is your greatest grief; yet may 
 the Lord spare you, and bless you, and make you a 
 blessing, that ye may bear fruit in old age. 0, fill 
 up the little inch of time that remains to his glory; 
 walk with God; live for God. 0, that every thought, 
 and word, and action, might be in his favour, and to 
 his praise. The Lord grant that we may meet again 
 here, and with you be refreshed ; but, if not, may we 
 meet "where we shall walk with Christ in white." 
 God, who knows my heart, knows it would be a hell 
 to me to spend an eternity with unconverted, Christ- 
 less souls ; but to be with Christ and his people is 
 heaven to me, wherever it is. There are many young 
 believers among you, whom I may never meet again. 
 It is hard to think of parting with you; the mother 
 feels it hard to part with the sucking child. It was 
 my highest delight in this world to see you growing 
 day by day — to see your sense of the plague of your 
 own heart deepening — to see you cleaving to Christ, 
 with full purpose of lieart — to see your "peace widen- 
 ing like a river," and to see your love burning higher 
 and higher toward the throne of God. You are in 
 my heart to live and to die with you. Still, He who 
 at any time fed you by me^ can as easily feed you by 
 another. I commend you to the Lord, on whom you 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 331 
 
 believe. Read 2d Peter iii. 17, meditate over it, pray- 
 over it; beware lest ye also, being led away with the 
 error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness; 
 but grow in grace. 
 
 The only way to be kept from falling is to grow. 
 If you stand still you will fall. Read Prov. xi. 2^, 
 " The righteous shall flourish as a branch." Remem- 
 ber you are not a tree^ that can stand alone; you are 
 only " a branch," and it is only while you abide in 
 Him^ as a branch, that you will flourish. Keep clear 
 your sense of justification; remember it is not your 
 own natural goodness, nor your tears, nor your sanc- 
 tification, that will justify you before God. It is 
 Christ's sufferings and obedience alone. Seek to be 
 made holier every day — pray, strive, wrestle, for the 
 Spirit, to make you like God. Be as much as you 
 can with God. I declare to you that I had rather 
 be one hour with God, than a thousand with the 
 sweetest society on earth or in heaven. All other 
 joys are but streams ; God is the fountain — " all my 
 springs are in thee." Now, may the blessings that 
 are on the head of the just be on your head. Be 
 faithful unto death, and Christ will give you a crown 
 of life; and if I never meet you again in this world, 
 may I meet you as *' pillars in the house of my God," 
 where "you shall go no more out," Pray for me when 
 you have access to the throne — when you have a 
 heart for it. I will try and pray for you, that ye may 
 endure to the end. I have a word more for those of 
 you that are still unconverted, whom I may never 
 see again in the flesh. My heart bleeds to think of 
 parting with you ; but I must defer this to my next 
 letter, for I expect to wrUe you again before I go. 
 Farewell for the present, and may the grace of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ be with your spirits. Amen. 
 
332 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 EIGHTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 Warnings to the unsaved — Causes why so many among us are unsaved. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 20th, 1839. 
 
 To all of yon, my dear flock, who are dearly beloved 
 and longed for, my joy and crown, your pastor wishes 
 grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and 
 from our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 In my last letter I showed you that, in all human 
 probability, there are many of you to whom I have 
 preached the gospel of salvation to whom I shall 
 never preach it again face to face. I cannot be blind 
 to the many dangers that accompany foreign travel — 
 the diseases and accidents to which we shall be ex- 
 posed; but if, through your prayers, I be given to 
 you again, how many blanks shall I find in my flock! 
 How many dear children of God gone to be " where 
 the weary are at rest," where the imperfect " are 
 made perfect !" How many of you that have stood 
 out against all the invitations of Christ, and all the 
 warnings of God, shall I find departed, to give in your 
 account before the throne! It is to these last I wish 
 now to speak. For two years I have testified to you 
 the gospel of the grace of God. I came to you in 
 ''weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling;" 
 and if the case of the children of God, and of back- 
 shding souls, has often lain heavy at my heart, I can 
 truly say that your dreadful condition "settled like 
 wine upon the lees," when you are about to be 
 " turned upside down, as a man turneth a dish and 
 Avipeth it," has been a continued anxiety to me; and 
 sometimes, when 1 have had glimpses of the reality 
 of eternal things, it has been an insupportable agony 
 to my spirit. I know well that this is a jest to you — 
 that you care not whether ministers go or stay; and 
 if ^rou get a short sermon on the Sabbath-day that 
 will soothe and not prick your conscience, that is all 
 you care for. Still, it may be, the Lord who opened 
 Manasseh's heart, will open yours, while I go over 
 solemnly, in the sight of God, what appear to be the 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 333 
 
 chief reasons why, after my two years' mhiistry 
 among you, there are still so many unconverted, 
 perishing souls. 
 
 One caiise is to be sought in your minister. In 
 Malachi ii. 6, you will find a sweet description of a 
 faithful and successful minister — " The law of truth 
 was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in 
 his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, 
 and did turn many away from iniquity.'^ This is 
 what ive should have done; but the furnace brings 
 out the dross, and afflictions discover defects unknown 
 before. 0, that I could say with Paul — " that I have 
 been with vou at all seasons servins: the Lord with all 
 humility of mind, and with many tears. Ye are 
 witnesses, and God also, how holily, and justly, and 
 unblamably, we behaved ourselves among you that 
 believe." I am indeed amazed that the ministry of 
 such a worm as I am should ever have been blessed 
 among 3^ou at all; and I do this day bewail before 
 God every sin in my heart and life that has kept back 
 the light from your poor dark souls. 0, you that can 
 pray, pray that I may come back a holy minister — a 
 shepherd not to lead the flock by the voice only, but 
 to walk before them in the way of life. Looking 
 back over my pulpit-work, alas ! I see innumerable 
 deficiencies. I always prayed that I might "not keep 
 back any thing that was profitable^^ — that I might 
 not shun to declare the whole counsel of God — " that 
 I might decrease, and Christ increase." Still, alas ! 
 alas ! how dimly I have seen and set before you 
 " the truth as it is in Jesus." How coldly have I 
 pleaded with you to " save yourselves from this un- 
 toward generation !" How many things I have 
 known among you "besides Christ and him cruci- 
 fied !" How often have I preached myself, and not 
 the Saviour ! How little I have "expounded to you 
 in all the Scriptures the things concerning Jesus !" 
 One error more has been in my private labours among 
 you. How much fruitless intercourse have 1 had 
 with 3^ou! I have not been like a shepherd crying 
 after the lost sheep, nor like diphysician among dying 
 
334 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 men, nor like a servant bidding you to the marriage, 
 nor like one plucking brands from the burning! How 
 often have I gone to your houses to try and win your 
 souls, and you have put me off with a little worldly 
 talk, and the words of salvation have died upon my 
 lips! I dared not tell you, you were perishing — I 
 dared not to show you plainly of the Saviour. How 
 often I have sat at some of your tables, and my heart 
 yearned for your souls, yet a false shame kept me 
 silent ! How often I have gone home crying bitterly, 
 '' Free me from blood-guiltiness, God, thou God of 
 my salvation." 
 
 I turn now to the causes in you, dear children of 
 God. You also have hindered in great measure God's 
 work in the parish. First, by your want of holiness. 
 "Ye are the light of the world." I have often told 
 you that a work of revival in any place almost always 
 begins with the childreu of God. God pours water 
 first on "him that is thirsty, and then on the dry 
 ground." But how little has " the woTd of the Lord 
 sounded out from you!" I do not mean that you 
 should have been loud talkers about religious things. 
 " In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, 
 and the talk of the lips leadeth to penury." But you 
 should have been " livmg epistles, known and read of 
 all men." You know that a lighted lamp is a very 
 small thing, and it burns calmly and without noise — 
 yet " it giveth hght to all that are within the house." 
 So, if you had day by day the blood of Christ upon 
 your conscience — walking a forgiven and adopted 
 child of God — having a calm peace in your bosom, 
 and a heavenly hope in your eye — having the Holy 
 Spirit filling you with a sweet, tender, chaste, com- 
 passionate, forgiving love to all the world — 0! had 
 you shone thus for two years back, how many of your 
 friends and neighbours that are going down to hell 
 might have been saying this day, " Thy people shall 
 be my people, and thy God my God." Think, my 
 beloved friends, that every act of unholiness, of con- 
 formity to the world, of selfishness, of whispering and 
 backbiting, is hindering the work of God in the parish, 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 335 
 
 and ruining souls eternally. And what shall I say to 
 those of you who, instead of emitting the sweet win- 
 ning light of holiness, have given out only rays of 
 daricness. " I have this against thee, that thou hast 
 left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence 
 thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, or 
 else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove 
 thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. '^ 
 Second — You have hindered God^s work hy your 
 want of prayer. When God gives grace to souls, it 
 is in answer to the prayers of his children. You will 
 see this, on the day of pentecost, Acts ii., Ezekiel 
 xxxvii. 9, shows that in answer to the prayer of a 
 single child of God, God will give grace to a whole 
 valley full of dry and prayerless bones. Where God 
 puts it into the heart of his children to pray, it is cer- 
 tain that he is going to pour down his Spirit in abun- 
 dance. Now, where have been your prayers, 
 children of God ? The salvation of those around you 
 depends on your asking, and yet '- hitherto ye have 
 asked nothing in Christ's name." Ye that are the 
 Lord's remembrancers keep not silence, and give him 
 no rest. Alas ! you have given God much rest — you 
 have allowed his hand to remain unplucked out of 
 his bosom. It is said of John W^elsh, minister of 
 Ayr, that he used always to sleep with a plaid upon 
 his bed, that he might wrap it around him when he 
 arose in the night to pray. He used to spend whole 
 nights in wrestling with God for Zion, and for the 
 purity of the Church of Scotland ; and he wondered 
 how Christians could lie all night in bed without rising 
 to pray. ! we have few Welshes now, therefore 
 our Church is so dim, and our land a barren wilder- 
 ness. Dear Christians, I often think it strange that 
 ever we should be in heaven, and so many in hell 
 through our soul-destroying carelessness. The good 
 Lord pardon the past, and stir you up for the future. 
 I learn that you are more stirred up to pray since I 
 left, both in secret and unitedly. God grant it be so. 
 Continue in it, dear children. Do not let it slip again. 
 
33 G PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 Plead and wrestle with God, showing him that the 
 cause is his own, and that it is all for his own glory 
 to arise and have mercy upon Zion. 
 
 Last of all, think of the causes i?i yourselves, O 
 unconverted souls! Be sure of this, that ye will only 
 have yourselves to blame if ye awake in hell. You will 
 not be able to plead God's secret decrees, nor the sins 
 of your minister, nor the carelessness of your godly 
 neighbours — you will be speechless. If you die, it is 
 because you ivill die-, and if you will die, then you 
 must die. 
 
 Thinkj first, on your carelessness about ordinan- 
 ces. They are the channels through which God pours 
 his Spirit. The Bible — prayer — the house of God — 
 these are the golden pipes through which the golden 
 oil is poured. How many of you utterly neglect the 
 Bible ! You know not the blessedness of the man 
 spoken of in the first Psalm. How many of you re- 
 strain prayer before God ! How many of you have 
 dead useless prayers, learned by rote ! And ! how 
 you despise the house of God! Alas! that Church 
 shall rise against you in judgment. It was a door of 
 the ark brought near to you. Two years and more 
 its gates have been wide open to you, and yet, how 
 you have slighted it! Already, I seem to hear your 
 loud wailing when you mourn at the last and say, 
 " How liave I hated instruction, and my heart des- 
 pised reproof, and have not obeyed the voice of my 
 teachers!" 
 
 Think, second, how you have been mockers. It has 
 been too common for you to make a mock of eternal 
 things and of godly people. When there have been 
 anxious souls seeking the way to be saved, and they 
 could not conceal their tears, you have called them 
 hypocrites ! When some have got a new heart, and 
 have changed their way of life, you have spoken 
 scoffingly of them, and tried to bring them into con- 
 tempt. Alas ! poor soul, look within. You have 
 hardened your hearts into an adamant stone. Look 
 at Prov. xvii. 5, '' He that mocketh the poorreproach- 
 eth his Maker.'' And, again, Isaiah xxviii. 22, "Now, 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 337 
 
 therefore, be ye not mockers^ lest your bands be made 
 strong." 
 
 To sum up all. The great cause that I leave you 
 hard is, that you " despise the Son of God.^' You 
 see no beauty in hiin that you should desire him. 
 You lightly esteem the rock of your salvation. Y^ou 
 have not had a soul-piercing look at a pierced Sa- 
 viour. You have not seen the infinite load of sins 
 that weighed down his blessed head. You have not 
 seen how open his arms are to receive — how often 
 he would have gathered you. You have not heard 
 that sweet word whispered of the Spirit, " Behold 
 me, behold me," which, when a man once hears, he 
 leaves all and follows. You have trampled under foot 
 the blood of the Son of God. Farewell, dear, dear 
 souls. God knows that my whole heart prays that 
 you may be saved. 
 
 Perhaps there are some of you that never would 
 bend under my ministry, who will melt like wax be- 
 fore the fire under the word of the dear young minis- 
 ter who is to speak to you in my absence. May the 
 Lord give him hundreds for my tens ! I will often 
 pray for you, and sometimes write to you when I am 
 faraway. If I reach Immanuel's land, I will say, 
 " the Lord bless you out of Zion." And if you will 
 not turn, remember I take God for a record that I am 
 pure from the blood of you all. 
 
 Dear children of God, I now cast you on him who 
 cast you on me when I was ordained over you. He 
 said to me "feed my sheep" — "feed my lambs" — 
 " feed my sheep." Now, when he sends me away, 
 I would humbly return his own words to him, saying 
 Shepherd of Israel — feed my sheep — feed my lambs 
 — feed my sheep. Little children, love one another. 
 Keep yourselves from idols. Bear me ever on your 
 hearts. Pray that when I have preached to others, I 
 may not be a castaway. Pray that I may save some. 
 
 Now the God of peace, that brought again from 
 the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd 
 of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 
 covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do 
 
 29 
 
338 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing 
 in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory 
 for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 My nextj if God will, may be from England. 
 
 NINTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 Incidents of the way as far as Leghorn — Exhortations. 
 
 Leghorn, May 2(Z, 1839. 
 
 To all of you, my beloved flock, who have received 
 Christ, and walk in Him, your pastor wishes grace, 
 and mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from 
 our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 My heart's desire and prayer for you every day is, 
 that you may be saved. I am now far from you in 
 the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit. I thank 
 my God without ceasing, for as many of you as have 
 been awakened to flee from the wrath to come — have 
 rested your soul upon the good word of God concern- 
 ing Jesus — and have tasted the love of God. In 
 every prayer of mine for you all, I ask that ye may 
 continue in the faith, grounded and settled — that ye 
 may be like trees, rooted in Christ Jesus — or like a 
 holy temple built up on him who is the only founda- 
 tion-stone. 
 
 I expected to have written you from London, and 
 again before leaving France, but we have travelled so 
 rapidly, often day and night, and the fatigue was so 
 great to my weak frame, that I was disappointed in 
 this ; but I did not forget you night or day, and I 
 know well I am not forgotten by you. Since I wrote 
 you last, I have passed through many cities and coun- 
 tries, and seen many faces and things strange to me. 
 Many lessons for my own soul, and for yours, 1 have 
 learned. At present I must write you shortly. 
 
 We left London on the 11th of April, and next 
 morning crossed the British Channel from Dover to 
 Boulogne,and found ourselves on the shores of France. 
 The very first night we spent in France, we were 
 visited by a most interesting Jew, evidently anxious 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 339 
 
 about his soul. He spoke with us for many hours, 
 accepted the New Testament in Hebrew, and bade 
 good-b}^ with much emotion. We thanked God for 
 this token for good. Pray for us that God may give 
 us good success, that we may have the souls of Israel 
 for our hire. From Boulogne we travelled to Paris, 
 by day and by night, and spent a Sabbath there. 
 Alas ! poor Paris knows no Sabbath, all the shops are 
 open, and all the inhabitants are on the wing in search 
 of pleasures — pleasures that perish in the using. I 
 thought of Babylon and of Sodom as I passed through 
 the crowd. I cannot tell how I longed for the peace 
 of a Scottish Sabbath. There is a place in Paris 
 called the Champs Elysees, or Plains of Heaven — a 
 beautiful public walk, with trees and gardens: we had 
 to cross it on passing to the Protestant church. It is 
 the chief scene of their Sabbath desecration, and an 
 awfnl scene it is. 0! thought I, if this is the heaven 
 a Parisian loves, he will never enjoy the pure heaven 
 that is above. Try yourselves by that text, Isaiah 
 Ivii. 13, 14. I remember of once preaching to you 
 from it. Do you really delight in the Sabbath-day ? 
 If not, you are no child of God. I remember with 
 grief that there are many among you that despise the 
 Sabbath — some that buy and sell on that holy day — 
 some who spend its blessed hours in worldly pleasures, 
 in folly and sin. ! you would make Dundee another 
 Paris if you could. Dear believers, oppose these 
 ungodly practices with all your might. The more 
 others dishonour God's holy day, the more do you 
 honour it, and show that you love it of all the seven 
 the best. Even in Paris, as in Sardis, we found a 
 little flock of believers. We heard a sweet sermon in 
 English, and another in French. There are only two 
 thousand Protestant hearers out of the half million 
 that inhabit Paris, and there are fourteen faithful ser- 
 mons preached every Sabbath. 
 
 We left the French capital on the 16th April, a 
 lovely evening, with a deep blue sky above, and a 
 lovely country before us, on the banks of the Seine* 
 This would be a delightsome land, if it only had the 
 
340 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 light of God's countenance upon it. We travelled 
 three days and three nights, by Troyes, Dijon, and 
 Chalons, till we came to Lyons, upon the rapid river 
 Rhone, in the south of France. The Lord stirred up 
 kind friends to meet us. Lyons is famous as being 
 the place where many Christians were martyred in 
 the first ages, and where many were burned at the 
 time of the Reformation, because they loved and 
 confessed the Lord Jesus. God loves the place still. 
 There' is a small body of three hundred believers, who 
 live here under a faithful pastor, Mr. Cordes. He 
 cheered our hearts much, and sent lis away with 
 affectionate prayers. That day we sailed down the 
 Rhone more than one hundred miles, through a most 
 wonderful country. We hoped to have spent the 
 Sabbath at Marseilles, but just as we entered the 
 Mediterranean Sea, a storm of wind arose, and drove 
 the vessel on a barren island, at the mouth of the 
 Rhone. We all landed and spent our Sabbath quietly 
 on the desert island. It was your communion Sabbath ; 
 and I thought that perhaps this providence was given 
 me that I might have a quiet day to pray for you. 
 There were about twelve fishermen's huts on the 
 island, made of reeds, with a vine growing before the 
 door, and a fig tree in their garden. We gave tracts 
 and books in French to all our fellow passengers, and 
 to the inhabitants, and tried to hallow the Sabbath. 
 My heart went up to God the whole day for you all, 
 and for my dear friends who would be ministering to 
 you. I tried to go over you one by one as many as 
 I could call to mind. My longing desire for you was, 
 that Jesus might reveal himself to you in the breaking 
 of bread — that you might have heart-filling views of 
 the lovely person of Immanuel,and might draw from 
 hiin rivers of comfort, life, and holiness. I trust your 
 fellowship was with the Father, and with his son 
 Jesus Christ. Many I know are ignorant of Jesus. 
 I trembled when I thought of their taking the bread 
 and wine. You know all my mind upon this. The 
 next morning the storm abated, and we sailed over 
 the tideless sea, and reached the beautiful harbour of 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 34 1 
 
 Marseilles by eight o'clock. We had conference with 
 a faithful young minister, and with the Rabbi of the 
 Jews. We also attended the synagogue the same 
 evening. The Jews of France are fast falUng into 
 infidelity, especially the younger Jews. They do not 
 love the law and the prophets as their fathers did. 
 They are, indeed, the dry bones in Ezekiel xxxvii. 
 Still God can make them live. It is our part to speak 
 to them the word of the Lord, and to pray for the 
 quickening Spirit. 
 
 True Christians in France are increasing. There 
 are four hundred Protestant ministers, and nearly one 
 half of these are faithful men, who know nothing 
 among their flocks but Christ and him crucified. In 
 some places Christians seem more bold and devoted 
 than in Scotland. It is very pleasant to hear them 
 singing the French psalms: they sing with all their 
 heart, and are much given to prayer. 0, my dear 
 Christians, be like them in these things. May the 
 same Holy Spirit, who has often visited you in times 
 gone by, fill your hearts more than ever with praise 
 and prayer. 
 
 Popery in France is waxing bolder. The first day 
 we landed on the shore, it was evident we were in a 
 land of Popish darkness. On the height above Bou- 
 logne, a tall white cross attracted our eyes. We found 
 on it an image of our Saviour nailed to the tree, larger 
 than life; the spear, the hammer, the nails, the sponge, 
 were all there. It was raised by some shipwrecked 
 fishermen ; and sailors' wives go there in a storm to 
 pray for their absent husbands. The Popish priests 
 meet us in every street; they wear a three-cornered 
 hat, black bands, a black mantle with a sash, and 
 large buckles on their shoes; they have all a dark 
 suspicious look about them. At the entrance of every 
 village there is a cross, and the churches are full of 
 pictures and images. I went into one church in Paris, 
 the finest in France, where the crosses were all of 
 pure silver, and there was a large white image of the 
 Virgin Mary, holding the infant Jesus in her arms. 
 Many rich and poor were kneeling on the pavement 
 
 29* 
 
342 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 before the image silently praying. Gross darkness 
 covers the people. A priest travelled one whole night 
 with us in the coach. We argued with him first in 
 French and then in Latin, trying to convince him of 
 his errors, showing him his need of peace with God, 
 and a new heart. In the cxxxvii. Psalm you will see 
 that Babylon, or Popery, is "doomed to destruction;" 
 and in Revel, xviii. you will see that her destruction 
 will be very sudden and very terrible. that it may 
 come soon, for thousands are perishing under its soul- 
 destroying errors. And yet remember what I used to 
 read to you out of Martin Boos; and remember the 
 saying of the Lord to Elijah, 1 Kings xix. There may 
 be many hidden ones even in Babylon. The whole 
 way through France we distributed French tracts. 
 Many hundreds in this way received a message of 
 life. In every village they came crowding around us 
 to receive them. Pray that the dews of the Spirit 
 may make the seed sown by the wayside spring up. 
 
 We were too late for the first vessel to Malta, and 
 therefore resolved to sail into Italy. We left Mar- 
 seilles on the 23d April, and landed in Genoa on the 
 24th. Genoa is one of the most beautiful towns in 
 the world — the most of the houses and churches are 
 of pure white marble, and, from the sea, look like 
 palaces; but Satan's seat is there — we dared not dis- 
 tribute a single tract or book in Genoa — we would 
 have been imprisoned immediately. The Catholic 
 priests, in their black dismal cloaks, and the monks 
 with their coarse brown dress, tied with a cord, a 
 crucifix and beads hanging round their neck, bare feet, 
 and cowl, swarm in every street. I counted that we 
 met twenty of them in a ten minutes' walk. Popery 
 reigns here triumphant, yet the people '^are sitting 
 still, and at ease," living for this world only. ! it 
 is an awful thing to be at ease when under the wrath 
 of God. Every place I see in Italy makes me praise 
 God that you have the gospel so freely preached unto 
 you. Prize it highly; do not neglect the wells of sal- 
 vation that flow so freely for you. 
 
 The next day we sailed for Leghorn, where we 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 343 
 
 have been ever since. We are living in the house 
 where the excellent Mr. Martin, once minister of St. 
 George's, Edinburgh, died in 1834. We visited his 
 grave. I prayed that, hke him, we might be faithful 
 unto the end. There are from ten thousand to twenty 
 thousand Jews here. We went to the synagogue the 
 night we arrived, and twice since; it is a beautiful 
 building inside, capable of holding two thousand per- 
 sons. The place where they keep the law, written 
 on a parchment roll, is finely ornamented with mar- 
 ble ; so is the desk where they read the prayers. 
 Lamps are continually kept burning. One rabbi was 
 chanting the prayers when we entered. Beside the 
 ark there stood three rabbis, in the eastern dress, with 
 turbans and flowing robes, and long beards. They 
 were much reverenced, and many came to kiss their 
 hand, and receive their blessing. One of them is from 
 Jerusalem; we have had many interesting conversa- 
 tions with him. Every day we have met with several 
 Jews; they are very friendly to us, and we try to con- 
 vince them out of the Scriptures that Jesus is the 
 Christ. There are about two hundred and fifty Pro- 
 testants here, and we have tried to stir them up also 
 to care for their souls. Dr. Black preached to them 
 in our hotel last Sabbath evening. 
 
 Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. To-morrow we 
 sail from Italy to Malta, then for Egypt, and then for 
 the Holy Land. Dear believers, it is a sweet conso- 
 lation to me that your prayers go with me wherever 
 I go. Often, perhaps, they close the mouth of the 
 adversary — often keep back the storms from our ves- 
 sel — often open a way to the hearts of those we meet 
 — often bring down a sweet stream of the Spirit to 
 water my thirsty soul. May I be enabled to make a 
 sweet exchange with you, praying my heavenly Father 
 to render double unto each of your bosoms what you 
 pray for me ! May my dear brother, who, I trust, fills 
 my place among you, be made a blessing to you all — 
 may his own soul be watered while he waters yours! 
 Join him with me in your supplications. May he win 
 many souls among you that I could never win. 
 
344 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 This is Thursday evening. I trust you are at this 
 moment met together in the prayer meeting. ! do 
 not forsake the assembHng of yourselves together. 
 My heart is with you all. May the Spirit fill the 
 whole church, and every heart, with his presence and 
 power. My body is still far from being strong. I 
 am more and more convinced that I did right in 
 leaving you. I trust to be restored to you again in 
 the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. 
 "The will of the Lord be done.'' 
 
 My dear brother, who is with me, whom you know 
 well, and who daily joins me in fervent prayers for 
 you, sends his salutations. Remember me to all who 
 are sick and afflicted. Alas! how many of you may 
 be labouring and heavy laden, that I know not of; 
 but Jesus knows your sorrows. I commend you to 
 the good Physician. 
 
 My dear classes, I do not, and cannot forget — 
 Psalm cxix. 9th verse, I pray may be written in your 
 hearts. 
 
 My dear children in the Sabbath-schools, I always 
 think upon, on the Sabbath evenings; and on those 
 who patiently labour among them. The Lord him- 
 self give you encouragement, and a full reward. 
 
 To all I say, keep close to Christ, dear friends. Do 
 not be enticed away from him ; he is all your right- 
 eousness, and all mine; out of Him you have all your 
 strength, and I mine. It pleased the Father that in 
 Him should all fulness dwell. 
 
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your 
 spirits. Farewell. 
 
 TENTH PASTORAL LETTER. 
 
 ''^ lucidentB of the way in Palestine and other lands— Request. 
 
 Breslaw, in Prussia, Oct, ]6fA, 1839. 
 
 To my dear flock, whom I love in the Lord Jesus, 
 grace, mercy, and peace, be multiplied from God the 
 Father, and from his Son Jesus Christ. 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 345 
 
 I fear that many of you will be thinking hardly of 
 your distant pastor, because of his long silence ; and, 
 indeed I cannot bnt think hardly of myself I little 
 thought, when leaving Italy, that I would be in Eu- 
 rope again before writing to you. I did not know 
 how difficult il is to write at any length when travel- 
 hng in the East. From the day we left Egypt till 
 we came to Mount Lebanon, for more than two 
 months, we were constantly journeying from place to 
 place, living in tents, without the luxury of a chair or 
 a bed. In these circumstances, with my weak body, 
 and under a burning sun, you must not wonder at my 
 silence. At the foot of Mount Carmel I began one 
 letter to you, and again in sight of the Sea of Galilee 
 I began another, but neither did I get finished. Last 
 of all before leaving the Holy Land, I set apart a day 
 for writing to you; but God had another lesson for 
 me to learn. He laid me down under a burning fever, 
 bringing me to the very gates of death. Indeed, my 
 dear people, I feel like Lazarus^ whom the Lord Jesus 
 raised from the tomb. I feel like one sent a second 
 time with the message of salvation, to speak it more 
 feelingly and more faithfully to your hearts, as one 
 whose eye had looked into the eternal world. In all 
 our wanderings you have been with me by night and 
 by day. Every scene of Immanuel's land brought 
 you to my remembrance, because every scene tells of 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified. In the wilderness — 
 in Jerusalem — beside the Sea of Galilee — at Smyrna 
 — on the Black Sea — on the Danube — you have been 
 all with me. I have, day and night, unceasingly laid 
 your case before God. It has been one of my chief 
 comforts, that, though I could not preach to you, nor 
 come to you, I could yet pray for you. Perhaps I 
 may obtain more for you in this way than I could 
 have done by my personal services among you. An- 
 other joy to me has been, that I know all of you who 
 pray, pray for me. This has been a lamp to me in 
 many a dark hour. God has wonderfully preserved 
 us through your prayers. In the south of the Holy 
 Land, we were daily exposed to the plague. Every 
 
346 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 night we heard the wail of the mourners going about 
 the streets of Jerusalem ; yet no plague came near 
 our dwelling. Near the Sea of Galilee, we were 
 often in danger of being robbed and murdered by the 
 wild Arabs ; yet we passed unhurt through the midst 
 of them. Sailing to Smyrna, your pastor was brought 
 low indeed, in so much that I never thought to see 
 you again; yet God sent his word and healed me. In 
 Poland, the Sabbath before last, 1 was actually in 
 the hands of robbers ; but through God's wonderful 
 mercy, I escaped safe. In every step of our journey, 
 I am persuaded we have been watched over by our 
 all-loving Father, who is the hearer of prayer. And 
 the Lord shall deliver us from every evil work, and 
 will preserve us unto his heavenly kingdom. I speak 
 of these things only that you may give him the glory, 
 and trust in him to your dying day. Sing the cxvi. 
 Psalm in all your families. Another joy to me has 
 been, that God has given you the dear brother who 
 watches over you so tenderly. You know not what 
 joy it gave me to hear of you all through him. The 
 letter reached me at Smyrna, when I was so weak 
 that I could not walk alone. It was like health and 
 marrow to my bones, to hear that the Lord's work 
 is not yet done in the midst of you, and that so many 
 of you stand fast in the Lord, having your conversa- 
 tion in heaven. I have no greater joy than to hear 
 that my children walk in the truth. It is not like 
 common joy. All joys of this world are short and 
 fading — they reach not beyond the dark boundary of 
 the grave; but to rejoice over those whom the Lord has 
 given me out of a perishing world — this is joy which 
 God himself shares, and which reaches into the light of 
 eternity. Ye are my joy and crown. In like manner, 
 there is no sorrow like the sorrow of the pastor who 
 has to weep over a backsliding people. I do tremble 
 to return to you, for I know well I shall have deep 
 sorrow from some of whom I expected joy. I fear 
 lest I have to mourn over some branches that are 
 without fruit, on the good vine tree ; over some, 
 who once gave their hand to the Saviour, but are 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 347 
 
 now saying, " I will go after my lovers." Are there 
 none of you who have left your first love, and broken 
 the bands that bound you to follow Jesus? Shall I 
 find none of whom I must needs say, " They went 
 out from us, but they were not of us?" 0, there is 
 no sorrow like unto this sorrow. Had I been able, 
 as I hoped, to have written you from all the chief 
 places in our journeyings, I would have attempted to 
 describe to you all I saw ; but now there are so many 
 countries to look back upon, that it would be in vain 
 to attempt it. I do hope, that if the Lord bring us 
 together again, I may be able to tell you many things 
 of our wanderings, and especially of Immanuel's land, 
 which may both refresh and improve you. Nothing 
 that I have heard I keep back from you, if only it be 
 for your souls' good and God's glory. Of the Holy 
 Land, I can only say, like the Queen of Sheba, "that 
 the half was not told me." It is far more wonderful 
 than I could have believed. I shall always reckon it 
 one of the greatest temporal blessings of my lot, that 
 I have been led to wander over its mountains with the 
 Bible in my hand, to sit by its wells, and to meditate 
 among its ruined cities. Not a single day did we 
 spend there without reading, in the land itself, the 
 most wonderful traces of God's anger and of his love. 
 Several times we went to the Mount of Olives, to 
 the Garden of Gelhsemane, to the Pool of Siloam, 
 and to the Village of Bethany, and every stone seemed 
 to speak of the love of God to sinners. These places 
 are probably very little altered from what they were 
 in the days when Jesus tabernacled among men, and 
 they all seemed to say, " Hereby perceive we the 
 love of God, because he laid down his life for us." We 
 were four days in sight of the Sea of Galilee. I 
 could not help thinking of you, my dear young people, 
 for we used to go over the Sea of Galilee so often on 
 the Monday evenings, and all the scenes of divine 
 love it has been witness to. One day we rode through 
 the Plain of Gennesareth, and passed the mouldering 
 ruins of Capernaum, the Saviour's city, where his voice 
 of mercy was so often heard, and where his hand was 
 
348 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 SO often stretched out to heal. We asked in vain for 
 Chorazin and Bethsaida. . The wo which Jesus pro- 
 nounced has fallen upon them. 
 
 my dear flock, "how shall you escape if you 
 neglect so great salvation ?" See how desolate they 
 are left that refuse him that speaketh from heaven. 
 The free offer of a divine surety rings through your 
 churches, nov/ that God continues faithful teachers 
 among you. Every Sabbath, and oftener, the fountain 
 for sin is publicly opened for you, and souls all defiled 
 with sin are invited to come and wash. But these 
 mercies will not always last. 
 
 If you tread the glorious gospel of the grace of 
 God under your feet, your souls will perish; and I 
 fear Dundee will one day be a howling wilderness like 
 Capernaum. I spent nearly the whole of August 
 during my illness in Bouja, a village near Smyrna, 
 under the care of tenderest friends, whom the Lord 
 wonderfully provided for me in a strange land. You 
 remember Smyrna is one of the Seven Churches in 
 A^ia to which the Saviour sent those quickening mes- 
 sages in the Revelation of St. John. I thought again 
 and again of the happy Thursday evenings which I 
 once spent with you in meditating on these Seven 
 Epistles to the Churches. You know it is said of 
 Sanmel, even when he was a child, that God did not 
 let one of his words fall to the ground, and the same 
 is true to this hour of the very weakest of God's faith- 
 ful ministers. What we have spoken to you is not 
 like the passing wind which hurries on and leaves no 
 trace behind. It is like the rain and snow — it will not 
 return to God without accomplishing some end in 
 your hearts, either melting or hardening. Smyrna is 
 the only one of these churches where a pure golden 
 candlestick is now to be found with the light burning. 
 There is a small company who believe in Jesus. It 
 was pleasant indeed to hear the gospel preached there 
 in all its purity and power. Be you also faithful to 
 death, and you shall receive a crown of life. Leaving 
 Smyrna, we sailed past Troas and Bithynia, and 
 visited Constantinople, the most beautiful city in the 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 349 
 
 world, and yet the most miserable. Looking round 
 from the deck of the vessel, I could count above ninety 
 minarets, many of them pure marble, carved and 
 gilded in the richest manner. These all form part of 
 mosques, or temples of the false prophet Mahomet. 
 This religion is a singular invention of Satan; their 
 Koran, or Bible, is a book filled with nonsense, and 
 with much wickedness. All their belief is compre- 
 hended in the short saying, " Lo Ullah il Allah, 
 Mahomed Rasal Allah"—" there is no God but God, 
 and Mahomed is his prophet,'^ They expect to be 
 saved chiefly by making pilgrimages to Mecca, by 
 abstaining from wine and pork, and by praying five 
 times a-day. Every day, at sunrise or sunset, we saw 
 them at prayer; wherever they are, in the open street, 
 on the top of the house, or on the deck of a ship, they 
 take off their shoes, wash hands, face, and feet, spread 
 their garment before them, and turning their face to- 
 wards Mecca, pray, bending and kissing the ground, 
 often fifteen and twenty times. They are rather 
 pleased if you look at them. They are very proud 
 of their own faith, and will not listen for a moment to 
 the gospel of Jesus. It would be instant banishment 
 or death if any missionary were to attempt their con- 
 version. Ah ! my dear flock, how difl"erently you are 
 situated How freely salvation is ofl"ered to you — a 
 faith that really saves you from your sins — that makes 
 you love one another. For love is of God, and every 
 one that loveth is born of God. If you are not grow- 
 ing humble and loving, be sure your faith is no better 
 than a Mahometan's. You are not of God, but of the 
 world. The next countries we visited were Walla- 
 chia and Moldavia. We sailed to them from Con- 
 stantinople, across the raging waves of the Black Sea, 
 and up the mighty river Danube. These are two sin? 
 gular countries, seldom visited by travellers; they are 
 governed by two princes, and the established religion 
 is of the Greek Church. I wish I could show you all 
 that I have seen of the superstitions and wickedness 
 practised among them, that you might give more earr 
 nest heed to the pure gospel that flows as freely as air 
 
 30 
 
350 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 and water through our beloved land. One day, in 
 Bucharest, the capital city of Wallachia, I was present 
 at a festival on the prince's birth-day. An immense 
 crowd was present in their finest church, and all the 
 nobles of the land. The service consisted of prayers 
 and chanting by a number of priests, dressed in the 
 most splendid manner. When all was over I staid 
 behind to see a curious superstition. At one side 
 of the altar lay an open coffin, highly ornamented; 
 within I observed a dead body wrapped in cloth of 
 gold; a dead withered hand alone was left out. This 
 is said to be the body of St. Demetrius, lately found 
 in a river, by the water parting asunder miracu- 
 lously. Such is the tale we are told. I stood beside 
 it when the worshippers approached the coffin in 
 great numbers, men and women, rich and poor. First, 
 they crossed themselves, and kneeled, kissing the floor 
 three times. Then they approached reverently, and 
 kissed the withered hand of the dead body and a 
 cross that lay beside it. Then they gently dropped 
 a small coin into a little plate at the dead man's feet, 
 and after receiving a blessing from the priest, with 
 three prostrations more to the ground, they retired. 
 This is one specimen of their abominable worship of 
 dead men. Do I tell you these things that you may 
 be proud of your superior light? Ah! no. I write 
 these things that those of you who live no better 
 lives than they do may be convinced of your danger. 
 What can you expect of these poor idolaters, but that 
 they will live after the flesh, in rioting and drunken- 
 ness, in chambering and wantonness, in strife and 
 envying. But are there none of you, my dear flock, 
 for whom night and day my prayers ascend — are 
 there none of you who do the same things, though you 
 have the Holy Bible, and a freely preached gospel, 
 and no superstition? Yet how many of you live an 
 unholy life! Ah! remember Sardis — "I know thy 
 works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art 
 dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which 
 remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found 
 thy works perfect before God." The next kingdom 
 
PASTORAL LETTERS. 351 
 
 we came through was Austrian Poland — the land of 
 graven images. We came through its chief towns, 
 Tarnapole, Brody, Lemburg, and from thence to Cra- 
 cow, traveUing many hundred miles. You would be 
 amazed, as 1 have been, if you saw the abominable 
 idolatry of this land. The Roman Catholic is the estab- 
 hshed faith; and the Government are bitter persecu- 
 tors of any who change. At every village there are 
 numbers of crosses, of immense size, witii the image 
 of the Saviour. There are also statues of the Virgin 
 Mary, and of other saints, as large as life, all along the 
 roads. Often there are wooden boxes set up, full of 
 images; often, in the middle of a square, there is a 
 small covered chamber full of these idols, of wood 
 and stone, whom the poor people worship every day. 
 The Bible is an unlawful book in this country. All 
 our Bibles were taken away from us, even our He- 
 brew ones, that we might not preach to the Jews the 
 glad tidings of a Saviour. Blessed be God, they could 
 not take them from our memories and hearts. Should 
 not this make you all pray for the coming of the day 
 when the towers of Popery shall fall — the day when 
 God shall avenge us on her; for the Bible which she 
 hates so much says, " Her plagues shall come in one 
 day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall 
 be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God 
 who judgeth her." Pray for that day, for it will be 
 the same day when God will bind up the breach of 
 his people Israel, and shall heal the stroke of their 
 wound. It will be the day when the Lamb's wife 
 shall come forth in all her loveliness, and when the 
 Lord Jesus shall wear the crown of his espousals. 
 
 I began this letter to you in Cracow, the ancient 
 capital of Poland, but now an independent state. We 
 spent three days there inquiring after the poor des- 
 pised Jews. We had much intercourse with a faith- 
 ful, prayerful missionary, who labours among them 
 there; and on the Sabbath we celebrated the Lord's 
 Supper. 
 
 During the four years he has been in Cracow, the 
 missionary had never once enjoyed the ordinance, for 
 
352 PASTORAL LETTERS. 
 
 all around are sunk in popery or infidelity. We were 
 but five souls in all, and yet we felt it very pleasant, 
 when surrounded with them that hated us, and far 
 from our homes, with the door of the chamber shut, 
 to remember Jesus. My thoughts and desires were 
 much towards you. I had greatly hoped to be pre- 
 sent at your next Lord's Supper ; but now I see it 
 cannot be. My only comfort is, I have committed you 
 to those who are beloved of the Lord, workmen that 
 need not to be ashamed, whose names are in the Book 
 of Life; and the chief Shepherd, I feel persuaded, will 
 not leave you orphans, bnt will come to you and 
 breathe upon you. May the Lord keep back from 
 the table all who are not united to Christ; and may 
 you, who are his own children, have communion with 
 the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ! 
 
 Since yesterday morning, we have travelled one 
 hundred and eighty miles nearer home. We are now 
 in Breslaw, and we breathe more freely, for this is the 
 Protestant kingdom of Prussia. It makes my heart 
 light to think that I am really on my way to you. It 
 has been a sweet work indeed to me to carry, with 
 poor stammering lips, the word of salvation to the 
 scattered sheep of the house of Israel ; still, I do long, 
 if it be the Lord's will, to feed once more the flock 
 that was given me in the dew of my youth. Whether 
 I shall be permitted, and how long, to take up so great 
 a work again, my Master only knows; but, if you 
 wish for it as fervently as I do, solemnly agree, in the 
 presence of God, on the night on which this letter is 
 read to you, to these two things — 1st. Strive, together 
 with me, in your prayers to God for me, that it would 
 please him to forgive and forget our past sins and 
 shortcomings — mine in carrying the message, yours in 
 receiving it; and that he would really heal my body, 
 and strengthen my soul, for again uptaking the blessed 
 work of the gospel-ministry among you, and that he 
 would grant us a prosperous journey to come unto 
 you. 2d. Solemnly agree, in the strength of the Lord 
 Jesus, to break ofl^ your sins by righteousness, and 
 your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. The 
 
TO THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER MEETING. 353 
 
 sill of one Achan troubled the whole camp of Israel. 
 If any one of you who are God's children wilfully 
 continue in some old sin, then it may be God's will, 
 for your sake, to trouble our camp, and continue his 
 chastening. See that no fleshly lust — no covetous- 
 iiess, which is idolatry — no hankering after the world 
 and its unholy pleasures — no unlawful affection — be 
 reigning in you. Clean out the old leaven from all 
 your houses, so that we may meet again in peace, and 
 be refreshed together by days of the Lord's presence, 
 and of the Spirit's power, such as we have never seen 
 before. Tliis is the hearty desire and prayer of your 
 aflectionate pastor, &c. 
 
 TO THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER MEETING. 
 
 Parable of the Sower. 
 
 My Dear Friends, — It has been a matter of great 
 joy to me to hear that you meet together from time 
 to time to read the word of God and pray — to pray 
 for a blessing on yourselves and families, that you 
 may be brought to the saving knowledge of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and to pray for ministers that they may 
 be filled with the Holy Spirit, and made insatiably 
 greedy for the salvation of souls, and that the Avord 
 of God preached on the Sabbath may rise and be 
 glorified till the whole world bow the knee at the 
 name of Jesus. 
 
 ! you that have had your eyes opened to see your 
 lost condition by nature and by wicked works — you 
 that have been drawn, by the Father, to believe in 
 Jesus, to wash in the blood of the Lamb, and to put 
 on the righteousness of God — 0! pray whh all your 
 heart that your dear friends may be brought to take 
 the peace you feel — that your enemies may be brought 
 to the same Saviour, and that all the world may be 
 brought to know him, whom to know is life eternal. 
 
 If you look at the xiii. chapter of Matthew, verse 
 3-9, you will see how much of our preaching is in 
 
 30* 
 
354 TO THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER MEETING. 
 
 vain, and what need there is to pray that God would 
 open the hearts we speak to. 
 
 Many among you, I fear, are hke the hard way- 
 side, so that, when tlie seed falls, it cannot get into 
 your hearts, and the devil plucks it all away. Verse 
 3-4. Is it not true that some of your hearts are like 
 the footpath, trodden all the week hy wicked thoughts? 
 '■^Frce passage this way^^ is written over your hearts — 
 common worldly thoughts — busy covetous desires of 
 money — malicious thoughts — impure, abominable 
 thoughts. who can tell what a constant thorough- 
 fare of wicked imaginations is passing night and day 
 through every unconverted mind! look at Gen. vi. 
 5, and weep over the Bible description of your own 
 hard hearts. Now, when you come to the church on 
 Sabbath, your heart is like a footpath; the seed can- 
 not fall in, it hes upon the surface. You do not 
 understand the minister. Perhaps he preaches of the 
 desperate wickedness of the heart, and the danger you 
 are in of going to hell, if you be not born again. You 
 feel it to be a dry subject, and turn your head away. 
 Perhaps he is preaching of the love of Jesus, in tasting 
 death for every man; and that he will in no wise cast 
 the vilest sinner out. Still, you feel no interest, and, 
 perhaps, you fall asleep during the sermon. you 
 are the wayside hearers — the devil plucks all the seed 
 away. When you turn your back on the church, 
 you turn your back on divine things; and before you 
 have got half way home, the devil has carried off 
 every word of the sermon. Y^'ea, often, I fear, before 
 you have got a sight of your own cottage, or the trees 
 before the door, the devil has filled your hearts with 
 abominable wordly thoughts, and your tongue with 
 evil talk, imworthy of the Sabbath. Satan, Satan! 
 what a cunning fiend thou art ! Even when the hard 
 hearts will not receive the word, thou wilt not suffer 
 it to remain; lest it should come back in a time of 
 sickness or danger, thou carriest all away. 
 
 Dear believers, pray that it be not so with you 
 nor with your friends ; pray for a soft heart and a 
 retentive memory ; and often speak together of the 
 
TO THE MEMBERS OF A PRAYER MEETING. 355 
 
 sermons you hear, and get them harrowed into your 
 hearts, that Satan may be cheated, and your soul 
 saved. 
 
 Many, I fear, among you, are receiving the seed 
 into stony places (v. 6); receiving the word for a 
 while ; but soon withering away in time of persecu- 
 tion. I fear there may be some among you who are 
 charmed with something about the gospel, instead of 
 cleaving in heart to Christ. I can imagine that some 
 of the wounded Israelites, that were bitten by the 
 serpent, were much taken with INIoses, as he held up 
 the brazen serpent, instead of looking at the serpent 
 itself. Many are fond of ministers who are not fond 
 of Christ. Read over Ezekiel xxxiii. 30-32, and 
 pray that this be not your case. 
 
 Now, I will give you two marks, by which you may 
 know whether you are one of these unfruitful hear- 
 ers. IsL The rocky heart will remain the same. If 
 you find that your liking to the gospel is from the 
 surface, from curiosity, or fancy, or love to a minister — 
 if you find that your rocky heart has never been 
 broken by conviction of sin — has never melted to 
 flow towards Jesus — then you are an empty professor; 
 you have a name to live, while you are spiritually 
 dead. 
 
 2d. You will endure for a while. A really converted 
 soul is like a branch. " I am the vine, ye are the 
 branches.^^ It will cleave to it summer and winter. 
 But if you have only a mock conversion, you will 
 wither away when persecution comes. God knows 
 how soon days of trial may come in Scotland. Be ye 
 therefore ready. He that endureth to the end shall 
 be saved. I fear, dear friends, that many of you re- 
 ceive the seed among thorns ; v. 7. Look into your 
 heart and see, when you read your Bible in the morn- 
 ing, how many cares and anxieties are dancing before 
 your eyes, so that you can hardly see the page you 
 are reading. How often you come to the house of 
 God, and you see the minister preaching of eternal 
 things with all his might, but your heart is stuffed 
 full of cares, and plans, and pleasures. Alas, alas ! the 
 world has got the first hold of your heart, and so you 
 
356 TO THE BIEMBERS OF A PRAYER MEETING. 
 
 can think of nothing else. What will it profit you if 
 you gain the whole world and lose your own soul? 
 
 One thing is plain, that thorns and wheat cannot 
 grow on the same spot of ground ; so that, if you will 
 keep to your thorns, you must burn with them. 
 dear souls, if you got but a glimpse of the beauty of 
 Jesus, you would leave all and follow him. If you 
 got but a taste of the sweetness of forgiveness, you 
 would count every thing else but loss for the excel- 
 lence of the knowledge of Christ. See how Matthew 
 did ? Mat. ix. 9. He was once as wordly as your- 
 selves, and as greedy of money as any one of you ; . 
 and yet a word from the sweet mouth of Christ made 
 him leave all. Read that sweet command of Christ ; 
 Mat. X. 37, 38. ! pray to be made willing to leave 
 all for Christ. He is kinder than father or mother — 
 more precious than son or daughter. Take up your 
 cross, then, and follow him. 
 
 Last of all, I trust there are some among you like 
 the good ground (v. 8), who receive the word into a 
 heart broken up by the Spirit of God — watered by 
 prayer — and who bear fruit unto life eternal. Have 
 YOU HAD YOUR HEARTS BROKEN, dear frlcuds ? Has 
 God ploughed up your hard, unbelieving hearts? 
 Have you had real concern for your perishing soul ? 
 Have you been driven to your knees ? Have you 
 ever wept in secret for your sins ? Have you been 
 made to tremble under your load of guilt ? Do you 
 come thus to the house of God — your heart like an 
 open furrow, waiting for the seed ? Inquire earn- 
 estly whether the fallow-ground of your heart has 
 ever been broken up; Jeremiah iv. 3. A broken 
 heart alone can receive a crucified Christ. 
 
 Have you understood the Gospel? Have you 
 believed the record that God has given concerning his 
 Son ? Do you feel that it is true that God is love ? — 
 that Christ has died the just for the unjust ? — that he 
 is beckoning you to come to him ? Do you believe 
 on the Son of God ? He that believeth shall be saved ; 
 he that believeth not shall be damned; Mark xvi. 16. 
 
 Do YOU bear fruit ? Without holy fruit all evi- 
 dences are vam. How vain would it be to prove to a 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 357 
 
 farmer tliat his fields were good and productive, if 
 they produced no corn! You might say to him, 
 " Neighbour, your land is good ; the soil is dry and 
 well trenched." " 0, but/' he would say, "where is 
 the yellow grain — where are the full ears falling before 
 the sickle of the reaper ?" Dear friends, you have 
 awakenings, enlightenings, experiences, a full heart in 
 prayer, and many due signs; but, if you want holiness, 
 you will never see the Lord. If you are a drinker, a 
 swearer, a liar, a lascivious talker, a wanton, a slan- 
 derer, you are in the broad way that leads to destruction. 
 Read Matthew vii. 21-23 ; and pray that you may 
 not be deceiving your own souls. Dear believers, 
 pray that you may bear fruit an hundredfold. Do 
 not be content with bearing thirtyfold or sixtyfold; 
 pray to be sanctified loholly ; 1 Thes. v. 23. Pray 
 that the whole lump may be leavened; Matt. xiii. 33. 
 Pray that, day and night, in company or alone, Sabbath 
 and week day, you may adorn the doctrine of God 
 our Saviour in all things. I often pray for you all ; 
 and desire that in secret and in your families you will 
 not forget me. Your friend and souls' wellwisher, &c. 
 
 EVIDENCE ON KEVIVALS. 
 
 ANSWER TO QUERIES ON THE SUBJECT OF THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION IN 
 
 ST. PETER'S PARISH, DUNDEE. 
 
 Submitted to a Committee of the Presbytery of Aberdeen. 
 
 In December 1840, the Presbytery of Aberdeen ap- 
 pointed a committee to inquire into the revivals which 
 had recently occurred in different parts of the country, 
 or were taking place at that time. The committee, 
 besides hearing evidence viva voce, issued queries 
 Avliich were sent, amongst other ministers, to Mr. Mc- 
 Cheyne. The following are copies of these queries 
 and of his answers: — 
 
 " I. Have revivals taken place in your parish or 
 district; and, if so, to what extent, and by what in- 
 strumentality and means? 
 
358 EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 
 
 " II. Do you know what was the previous character 
 and habits of the parties? 
 
 " III. Have any who are notorious for drunkenness, 
 or other immoralities, neglect of family duties, or pub- 
 He ordinances, abandoned their evil practices, and be- 
 come remarkable for their diligence in the use of the 
 means of grace? 
 
 '' IV. Could you condescend on the number of such 
 cases? 
 
 " V. Has the conduct of any of the parties been 
 hitherto consistent; and how long has it lasted? 
 
 *' VI. Have the means to which the revivals are 
 ascribed been attended with heneiicial effects on the 
 religious condition of the people at large? 
 
 " VII. Were there public manifestations of physical 
 excitement, as in audible sobs, groans, cries, screams, 
 &c.? 
 
 ''VIH. Did any of the parties throw themselves 
 into unusual postures? 
 
 " IX. Were there any who fainted, fell into convul- 
 sioDS, or were ill in other respects ? 
 
 " X. How late have you ever known revival meet- 
 ings last? 
 
 " XI. Do you approve or disapprove of these meet- 
 ings upon the whole ? In either case, have the good- 
 ness to state why. 
 
 " XII. Was any death occasioned, or said to be 
 occasioned, by over excitement in any such case ? If 
 so, state the circumstances in so far as you know 
 them. 
 
 " XIII. State any other circumstances connected 
 with revivals in your parish or district, which though 
 not involved in the foregoing queries, may tend to 
 throw light upon this subject. '' 
 
 ADDITIONAL QUERIES. 
 
 " XIV. What special circumstances in the preaching 
 or ministrations of the instruments appear to have 
 produced the results in each particular case which may 
 have come under your notice ? 
 
 " XV. Did the person or persons whom you des- 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 359 
 
 sribed as the instruments in producing the effects 
 above adverted to address children ? At what hour ? 
 In what special terms ? And what might be the age 
 of the youngest of them ? 
 
 MR. McCHEYNE'S ANSWERS. 
 
 I. II. It is my decided and solemn conviction in the 
 sight of God, that a very remarkable and glorious 
 work of God, in the conversion of sinners and edifying 
 of saints, has taken place in this parish -and neighbour- 
 hood. This work I have observed going on from the 
 very beginning of my ministry in this place in No- 
 vember 1836, and it has continued to the present time; 
 but it was much more remarkable in the autumn of 
 1839, when I was abroad on a mission of inquiry to 
 the Jews, and when my place was occupied by the 
 Rev. W. C. Burns. Previous to my going abroad, 
 and for several months afterwards, the means used 
 were of the ordinary kind. In addition to the services 
 of the Sabbath, in the summer of 1837, a meeting 
 was opened in the church on Thursday evenings for 
 prayer, exposition of Scripture, reading accounts of 
 missions, revivals of religion, &c.. Sabbath schools 
 were formed, private prayer meetings were encou- 
 raged, and two weekly classes for young men and 
 young women were instituted with a very large at- 
 tendance. These means were accompanied with an 
 evident blessing from on high in many instances. But 
 there was no visible or general movement among the 
 people until August 1839, when, immediately after 
 the beginning of the Lord's work at Kilsyth, the word 
 of God came with such power to the hearts and con- 
 sciences of the people here, and their thirst for hear- 
 ing it became so intense, that the evening classes in 
 the school-room were changed into densely crowded 
 congregations in the church, and for nearly four months 
 it was found desirable to have public worship almost 
 every night. At this time, also, many prayer-meet- 
 ings were formed, some of which were strictly private 
 or fellowship meetings, and others, conducted by per- 
 sons of some Christian experience, were open to per- 
 sons under concern about their souls. At the time of 
 
3 GO EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 
 
 my return from the Mission to the Jews, I found thirty- 
 nine such meetings held weekly in connexion with 
 the congregation, and five of these were conducted 
 and attended entirely by little children. At present 
 ahhough many changes have taken place, I believe 
 the number of these meetings is not much diminished. 
 Now, however, they are nearly all of the more private 
 kind — the deep and general anxiety, which led to many 
 of them being open, having in a great degree sub- 
 sided. Among the many ministers who have assisted 
 here from time to time, and especially in the autumn 
 of 1S39, I may mention Mr. Macdonald of Urqnhart, 
 Mr. Gumming of Dumbarney, Mr. Bonar of Larbert, 
 Mr. Bonar of Kelso, and Mr. Somerville of Anders- 
 ton. Some of these were present here for a con- 
 siderable time, and I have good reason for believing 
 that they were eminently countenanced by God in 
 their labours. 
 
 As to the extent of this work of God, I believe it is 
 impossible to speak decidedly. The parish is situated 
 in the suburb of a city containing sixty thousand 
 inhabitants. The work extended to individuals re- 
 siding in all quarters of the town, and belonging to 
 all ranks and denominations of the people. Many 
 hundreds, under deep concern for their souls, have 
 come, from first to last, to converse with the minis- 
 ters; so that I am deeply persuaded the number of 
 those who have received saving benefit is greater than 
 any one will know till the Judgment-day. 
 
 III. I do not know of any thing in the ministrations 
 of those who have occupied my pulpit, that may with 
 propriety be called peculiar, or that is different from 
 what I conceive ought to characterize the services of 
 all true ministers of Christ. They have preached, so 
 far as I can judge, nothing but the pure gospel of the 
 grace of God. They have done this fully, clearly, 
 solemnly; with discrimination, urgency, and affection. 
 None of them read their sermons. They all, I think, 
 seek the immediate conversion of the people, and 
 they believe that, under a living gospel ministry, suc- 
 cess is more or less the rule, and want of success the 
 exception. They are, I believe, in general, peculiarly 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 361 
 
 given to secret prayer ; and they have also been 
 accustomed to have much united prayer when toge- 
 tlier, and especially before and after engaging in pub- 
 lic worship. Some of them have been peculiarly 
 aided in declaring the terrors of the Lord, and others 
 in setting forth the fulness and freeness of Christ as 
 the Saviour of sinners; and the same persons have 
 been, at different times, remarkably assisted in both 
 these ways. So far as I am aware, no unscriptural 
 doctrines have been taught, nor has there been a 
 keeping back of any part of " the whole counsel of 
 God.'^' 
 
 IV. The ministers engaged in the work of God in 
 this place, believing that children are lost and may 
 through grace be saved, have, therefore, spoken to 
 children as freely as to grown persons; and God has 
 so greatly honoured their labours, that many children, 
 from ten years old and upwards, have given full evi- 
 dence of their being born again. I am not aware of 
 any meetings that have been held peculiarly for chil- 
 dren, with the exception of the Sabbath-schools, the 
 children's prayer-meetings, and a sermon to children 
 on the Monday evening after the communion. It 
 was commonly at the public meetings, in the house 
 of God, that children were impressed; often, also, in 
 their own little meetings, when no minister was pre- 
 sent. 
 
 V. VI. The previous character of those who seem 
 to have been converted was very various. I could 
 name not a few in the higher ranks of life, that seem 
 evidently to have become new creatures, who pre- 
 viously lived a worldly life, though unmarked by 
 open wickedness. Many, again, who were before 
 nominal Christians, are now living ones. I could 
 name, however, far more, who have been turned from 
 the paths of open sin and profligacy, and have found 
 pardon and purity in the blood of the Lamb, and by 
 the Spirit of our God ; so that we can say to them, as 
 Paul said to the Corinthians, " Such were some of 
 you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye 
 are justified," &c. I often think, when conversing 
 
 31 
 
362 EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 
 
 With some of these, that the change they have under- 
 gone might be enough to convince an Atheist that 
 there is a God, or an Infidel that there is a Saviour. 
 
 VII. It is not easy for a minister, in a field Uke this, 
 to keep an exact account of all the cases of awaken- 
 ing and conversion that occur ; and there are many of 
 which he may never hear. I have always tried to 
 mark down the circumstances of each awakened soul 
 that applied to me, and the number of these from first 
 to last, has been very great. During the autumn of 
 1839, not fewer than from six hundred to seven 
 hundred came to converse with the ministers about 
 their souls ; and there were many more, equally con- 
 cerned, who never came forward in this way. I know 
 many, who appear to have been converted, and yet 
 have never come to me in private ; and I am, every 
 now and then, meeting with cases of which I never 
 before heard. Indeed, eternity alone can reveal the 
 true number of the Lord's hidden ones among us. 
 
 VIII. With regard to the consistency of those who 
 are believed to have been converted, I may first of all 
 remark, that it must be acknowledged, and should be 
 clearly understood, that many who came under con- 
 cern about their souls, and seemed, for a time, to be 
 deeply convinced of sin, have gone back again to the 
 world. I believe that, at that remarkable season in 
 1S39, there were very few persons who attended the 
 meetings without being more or less affected. It 
 pleased God, at that time, to bring an awfully solemn 
 sense of divine things over the minds of men. It 
 was, indeed, the day of our merciful visitation. But 
 many allowed it to slip past them without being 
 saved; and these have sunk back, as was to be ex- 
 pected, into their former deadness and impenitence. 
 Alas ! there are some among us, whose very looks 
 remind you of that awful warning, " Quench not the 
 Spirit.'' 
 
 Confining our view, however, to those who, as far 
 as ministers could judge by the rules of God's word, 
 seemed to be savingly converted, I may with safety 
 say, that I do not know of more than two who have 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 363 
 
 openly given the lie to their profession. Other cases 
 of this kind may have occurred, but they are unknown 
 to me. More, I have little doubt, will eventually 
 occur; for the voice of God teaches us to expect such 
 things. Some of those converted have now walked 
 consistently for four years; the greater part from one 
 to two years. Some have had their falls into sin, and 
 have thus opened the mouths of their adversaries, but 
 the very noise that this has made shows that such in- 
 stances are very rare. Some have fallen into spiritual 
 darkness; many I fear have left their first love; but 
 yet I see nothing in all this but what is incident in the 
 case of every Christian church. Many there are 
 among us, who are filled with light and peace, and 
 are examples to the believers in all things. We had 
 an additional communion season at my return from 
 the continent, which was the happiest and holiest that 
 I was ever present at. The Monday was entirely 
 devoted to thanksgiving, and a thank-oifering was 
 made among us to God for his signal mercies. The 
 times were hard, and my people are far from wealthy, 
 yet the sum contributed was seventy-one pounds. 
 This was devoted to Missionary purposes. It is true 
 that those whom I esteem as Christians do often 
 grieve me by their inconsistencies; but still I cannot 
 help thinking that, if the world were full of such, the 
 time would be come when " they shall neither hurt nor 
 destroy in all God's holy mountain.'' 
 
 IX. During the progress of this work of God, not 
 only have many individuals been savingly converted, 
 but important eff'ects have also been produced upon 
 the people generally. It is indeed amazing, and truly 
 affecting to see, that thousands living in the immedi- 
 ate vicinity of the spot, where God has been dealing 
 so graciously, still continue sunk in deep apathy in 
 regard to spiritual things, or are running on greedily 
 in open sin. While many from a distance have be- 
 come heirs of glory, multitudes, I fear, of those who 
 five within the sound of the Sabbath bell, continue to 
 hve on in sin and misery. Still, however, the eflects 
 that have been produced upon the community are 
 
364 EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 
 
 very marked. It seems now to be allowed, even by 
 the most ungodly, that there is such a thing as con- 
 version. Men cannot any longer deny it. The Sab- 
 bath is now observed with greater reverence than it 
 used to be ; and there seems to be far more of a solemn 
 awe upon the minds of men than formerly. I feel that 
 I can now stop sinners in the midst of their open sin 
 and wickedness, and command their reverent atten- 
 tion, in a way that I could not have done before. 
 The private meetings for prayer have spread a sweet 
 influence over the place. There is far more solemnity 
 in the house of God ; and it is a different thing to 
 preach to the people now from what it once was. 
 Any minister of spiritual feeling can discern that there 
 are many praying people in the congregation. When 
 I came first here, I found it impossible to estabhsh 
 Sabbath-schools on the local system; while, very 
 lately, there were instituted with ease, nineteen such 
 schools, that are well taught and well attended. 
 
 X. XI. XII. As I have already stated, by far the 
 most remarkable season of the working of the Spirit 
 of God in this place, v/as in 1839, when I was abroad. 
 At that time, there were many seasons of remarkable 
 solemnity, when the house of God literally became " a 
 Bochim, a place of weepers." Those who were privi- 
 leged to be present at these times will, I believe, never 
 forget them. Even since my return, however, I have 
 myself frequently seen the preaching of the word 
 attended with so much power, and eternal things 
 brought so near, that the feelings of the people could 
 not be restrained. I have observed at such times an 
 awful and breathless stillness pervading the assembly; 
 each hearer bent forward in the posture of wrapt 
 attention ; serious men covered their faces to pray 
 that the arrows of the King of Zion might be sent 
 home with power to the hearts of sinners. Again, at 
 such a time, I have heard a half-suppressed sigh rising 
 from many a heart, and have seen many bathed in 
 tears. At other times I have heard loud sobbing in 
 many parts of the church, while a deep solemnity per- 
 vaded the whole audience. I have also, in some in- 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 365 
 
 Stances, heard individuals cry aloud, as if they had 
 been pierced through with a dart. These solemn 
 scenes were witnessed under the preaching of differ- 
 ent ministers, and sometimes occurred under the most 
 tender gospel invitations. On one occasion, for in- 
 stance, when the minister was speaking tenderly on 
 the words, " He is altogether lovely," almost every 
 sentence was responded to by cries of the bitterest 
 agony. At such times I have seen persons so over- 
 come, that they could not walk or stand alone. I have 
 known cases in which believers have been similarly 
 affected through the fulness of their joy. I have often 
 known such awakenings to issue in what I believe to 
 be real conversion. I could name many of the hum- 
 blest, meekest believers, who at one time cried out in 
 the church under deep agony. I have also met with 
 cases where the sight of souls thus pierced has been 
 blessed by God to awaken careless sinners who had 
 come to mock. 
 
 I am far from believing that these signs of deep 
 alarm always issue in conversion, or that the Spirit 
 of God does not often work in a more quiet manner. 
 Sometimes, I believe, he comes like the pouring rain; 
 sometimes like the gentle dew. Still I would humbly 
 state my conviction, that it is the duty of all who seek 
 the salvation of souls, and especially the duty of min- 
 isters, to long and pray for such solemn times, when 
 the arrows shall be sharp in the heart of the King's 
 enemies, and our slumbering congregations shall be 
 made to cry out, *' Men and brethren, what shall we 
 do?" 
 
 XIII. XIV. None of the ministers who have been 
 engaged in the work of God here have ever used the 
 name "revival meeting;" nor do they approve of 
 its use. We are told in the Acts that the Apostles 
 preached and taught the gospel daily; yet their meet- 
 ings are never called revival meetings. No other 
 meetings have taken place here, but such as were 
 held for the preaching and teaching of the gospel, and 
 for prayer. It will not be maintained by any one, 
 
 31* 
 
366 EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 
 
 that the meetings m the sanctuary every Lord's Day 
 are intended for any other purpose than the revival of 
 genuine godhness, through the conversion of sinners, 
 and the edification of saints. All the meetings in this 
 place were held, I believe, with a single eye to tlie 
 same object. There seems, therefore, to be no pro- 
 priety in applying the name pecuharly to any meet- 
 ings that have been held in this place. It is true, 
 indeed, that on week evenings there is not generally 
 the same formality as on Sabbaths — the congregation 
 are commonly dressed in their working clothes, and 
 the minister speaks with less regular preparation. 
 
 During the autumn of 1S39, the meetings were in 
 general dismissed at ten o'clock ; although, in several 
 instances, the state of the congregation seemed to be 
 such as to demand that the ministers should remain 
 still longer with them, that they might counsel and 
 pray with the awakened. I have myself, once or 
 twice, seen the service in the house of God continue 
 till about midnight. On these occasions, the emotion 
 during the preaching of the word was so great, that 
 after the blessing had been pronounced at the usual 
 hour, the greater part of the people remained in their 
 seats, or occupied the passages, so that it was impos- 
 sible to leave them. In consequence of this, a few 
 words more were spoken suited to the state of awak- 
 ened souls; singing and prayer filled up the rest of the 
 time. In this way the meeting was prolonged by the 
 very necessity of the case. On such occasions, I have 
 often longed that all the ministers in Scotland were 
 present, that they might learn more deeply what the 
 true end of our ministry is. I have never seen or 
 heard of anything indecorous at such meetings ; and, 
 on all such occasions, the feelings that filled my soul 
 were those of the most solemn awe, the deepest com- 
 passion for afflicted souls, and an unutterable sense of 
 the hardness of my own heart. I do entirely and 
 solemnly approve of such meetings, because I believe 
 them to be in accordance with the word of God, to be 
 pervaded by the Spirit of Christ, and to be ofttimes 
 
EVIDENCE ON REVIVALS. 357 
 
 the birth-places of precious never-dying souls. It is 
 my earnest prayer that we may yet see greater things 
 than these in all parts of Scotland. 
 
 XV. There was one death that took place in very 
 solemn circumstances at the time of the work of God 
 in this place, and this was ascribed by many of the 
 enemies to religious excitement. The facts of the 
 case, however, which were published at the time, 
 clearly show that this was a groundless calumny. 
 
 XVI. I have been led to examine, with particular 
 care, the accounts that have been left us of the Lord's 
 marvellous works in the days that are past, both in 
 our own land and in other parts of the world, in 
 order that I might compare these with what has 
 lately taken place at Dundee, and in other parts of 
 Scotland. In doing this, I have been fully convinced 
 that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Kirk of 
 Shotts, and again, a century after, at Cambuslang, &c. 
 in Scotland, and under the ministry of President Ed- 
 wards in America, was attended by the very same 
 appearances as the work in our own day. Indeed, 
 so completely do they seem to agree, both in their 
 nature and in the circumstances that attended them, 
 that I have not heard a single objection brought against 
 the work of God now, which was not urged against it 
 in former times, and that has not been most scriptu- 
 rally and triumphantly removed by Mr. Robe in his 
 Narrative, and by President Edwards in his inva- 
 luable Thoughts on the Revival of Religion in New 
 England: — "And certainly we must throw by all 
 talk of conversion and Christian experience ; and not 
 only so, but we must throw by our Bibles, and give 
 up revealed relieion, if this be not in general the work 
 of God.'' 
 
 March ^Gth, 1841. 
 
368 
 
 SONGS OF ZION 
 
 TO CHEER AND GUIDE PILGRIMS ON THEIR WAY TO THE 
 
 HEAVENLY JERUSALEM. 
 
 THE BARREN FIG TREE, 
 
 Within a vineyard's sunny bound 
 An ample fig tree shelter found, 
 
 Enjoying sun and showers ; 
 The boughs were graceful to the view, 
 With spreading leaves of deep-green hue, 
 
 And gaily blushing flowers. 
 
 When round the vintage season came, 
 This blooming fig was still the same, 
 
 As promising and fair ; 
 But though the leaves were broad and green, 
 No precious fruit was to be seen, 
 
 Because no fruit was there. 
 
 " For three long years," the Master cried, 
 *' Fruit on this tree to find I've tried. 
 
 But all in vain my toil; 
 Ungrateful tree ! the axe's blow 
 Shall lay thy leafy honours low; 
 
 Why cumbers it the soil ?" 
 
 " Ah ! let it stand just one year more," 
 The dresser said, " till all my store 
 
 Of rural arts I've shown ; 
 I'll dig about its sluggish roots ; 
 Perhaps 'twill yet bear pleasant fruits ; — 
 
 If not, then cut it down." 
 
 J 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 369 
 
 How many years hast thou, my heart, 
 Acted the barren fig tree's part, 
 
 Leafy, and fresh, and fair, 
 Enjoying heavenly dews of grace. 
 And sunny smiles from God's own face ! 
 
 But where the fruit? ah! where? 
 
 How often must the Lord have prayed 
 That still my day might be delayed. 
 
 Till all due means were tried ; 
 Afflictions, mercies, health, and pain, 
 How long shall these be all in vain 
 
 To teach this heart of pride ? 
 
 Learn, O my soul, what God demands 
 Is not a faith like barren sands. 
 
 But fruit of heavenly hue ; 
 By this we prove that Christ we know, 
 If in his holy steps we go — 
 
 Faith works by love, if true. 
 
 August J 4, 1834. 
 
 "THEY SING THE SONG OF MOSES." 
 
 Dark was the night, the wind was high. 
 The way by mortals never trod ; 
 
 For God had made the channel dry. 
 When faithful Moses stretched the rod. 
 
 The raging waves on either hand 
 Stood like a massy tottering wall. 
 
 And on the heaven- defended band 
 Refused to let the waters fall. 
 
 With anxious footsteps, Israel trod 
 The depths of that mysterious way; 
 
 Cheered by the pillar of their God, 
 
 That shone for them with favouring ray. 
 
 But when they reached the opposing shore. 
 As morning streaked the eastern sky. 
 
 They saw the billows hurry o'er 
 The flower of Pharaoh's chivalry. 
 
370 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 Then awful gladness filled the mind 
 Of Israel's mighty ransomed throng ; 
 
 And while they gazed on all behind, 
 Their wonder burst into a song. 
 
 Thus, thy redeemed ones, Lord, on earth, 
 While passing through this vale of weeping, 
 
 Mix holy trembling with their mirth. 
 
 And anxious watching with their sleeping. 
 
 The night is dark, the storm is loud. 
 The path no human strength can tread ; 
 
 Jesus, be thou the pillar-cloud. 
 
 Heaven's light upon our path to shed. 
 
 And oh ! when, Hfe's dark journey o'er, 
 And death's enshrouding valley past. 
 
 We plant our feet on yonder shore, 
 And tread yon golden strand at last ; 
 
 Shall we not see with deep amaze, 
 How grace hath led us safe along ; 
 
 And whilst behind, before, we gaze, 
 Triumphant burst into a song 1 
 
 And even on earth, though sore bestead. 
 Fightings without, and fears within ; 
 
 Ransomed to-day from slavish dread, 
 To-morrow captive led by sin ; 
 
 Yet would I lift my downcast eyes. 
 
 On Thee, thou brilliant tower of fire — 
 
 Thou dark cloud to mine enemies — 
 That Hope may all my breast inspire. 
 
 And thus the Lord, my strength, I'll praise, 
 Though Satan and his legions rage ; 
 
 And the sweet song of faith I'll raise, 
 To cheer me on my pilgrimage. 
 
 Edinburgh, 1835. 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 371 
 
 JEHOVAH TSIDKENU. 
 "the lord our righteousness." 
 
 (The watchword of the Reformers.) 
 
 I once was a stranger to grace and to God, 
 I knew not my danger, and felt not my load ; 
 Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree, 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothincr to me. 
 
 I oft read with pleasure, to soothe or engage, 
 Isaiah's bold measure and John's simple page; 
 But e'en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree, 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu seemed nothing to me. 
 
 Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll, 
 I wept when the waters went over his soul; 
 Yet thought not my sins had nailed to the tree 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu, — 'twas nothing to me. 
 
 When free grace awoke me, by light from on high, 
 Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die ; 
 No refuge, no safety in self could I see, — 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be. 
 
 My terrors all vanished before the sweet name ; 
 My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came 
 To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free, — 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me. 
 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu ! my treasure and boast, 
 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu ! I ne'er can be lost ; 
 
 In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field. 
 
 My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield! 
 
 Even treading the valley, the shadow of death. 
 This watchword shall rally my faltering breath ; 
 For while from life's fever my God sets me free, 
 Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be. 
 
 Mrvember 18, 1834. 
 
372 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 ON MUNGO PARK'S FINDING A TUFT OF GREEN MOSS 
 IN THE AFRICAN DESERT. 
 
 ["Whatever way I turned, nothing appeared but danger and diffi- 
 culty. I saw myself in the midst of a vast wilderness, in the depth 
 of the rainy season, naked and alone, surrounded by savage ani- 
 mals, and men still more savage. I was five hundred miles from 
 the nearest European settlement. At this moment, painful as my 
 reflections were, the extraordinary beauty of a small moss in fruc- 
 tification irresistibly caught my eye. I mention this to show from 
 what trifling circumstances the mind will sometimes derive conso- 
 lation ; for though the whole plant was not larger than the top of 
 one of my fingers, I could not contemplate the delicate conforma- 
 tion of its roots, leaves, and capsule, without admiration. Can that 
 Being, thought I, who planted, watered, and brought to perfection, 
 in this obscure part of the world, a thing which appears of so small 
 importance, look with unconcern upon the situation and sufferings 
 of creatures formed afl;er his own image ? Surely not. I started 
 up, and disregarding both hunger and fatigue, travelled forward, 
 assured that relief was at hand, and I was not disappointed." — 
 Park's Travels.] 
 
 The sun had reached his mid-day height, 
 And poured down floods of burning hght, 
 
 On Afric's barren land; 
 No cloudy veil obscured the sky, 
 And the hot breeze that struggled by 
 
 Was filled with glowing sand. 
 
 No mighty rock upreared its head, 
 To bless the wanderer with its shade. 
 
 In all the weary plain ; 
 No palm-trees with refreshing green 
 To glad the dazzled eye were seen, 
 
 But one wide sandy main. 
 
 Dauntless and daring was the mind 
 That left all home-born joys behind 
 
 These deserts to explore — 
 To trace the mighty Niger's course, 
 And find it bubbling from its source 
 
 In wilds untrod before. 
 
 And ah ! shall we less daring show, 
 Who nobler ends and motives know 
 Than ever heroes dream — 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 373 
 
 Who seek to lead the savao;e mind 
 The precious fountain-head to find 
 
 VVhence flows salvation's stream? 
 
 Let peril, nakedness, and sword. 
 Hot barren sands, and despot's word 
 
 Our burning zeal oppose — 
 Yet, Martyn-like, we lift the voice, 
 Bidding the wilderness rejoice. 
 
 And blossom as the rose. 
 
 Sad, faint, and wearj?^ on the sand 
 Our traveller sat him down; his hand 
 
 Covered his burning head. 
 Above, beneath, behind, around — - 
 No resting for the eye he found ; 
 
 All nature seemed as dead. 
 
 One tiny tuft of moss alone 
 Mantling with freshest green a stone, 
 
 Fixed his delighted gaze — 
 Through bursting tears of joy he smiled, 
 And while he raised the tendril wild 
 
 His lips o'erflowed with praise. 
 
 " O, shall not He who keeps thee green, 
 Here in the waste, unknown, unseen — 
 
 Thy fellow-exile save ? 
 He who commands the dew to feed 
 Thy gentle flower, can surely lead 
 
 Me from a scorching grave!" 
 
 o o 
 
 The heaven-sent plant new hope inspired- 
 New courage all his bosom fired. 
 
 And bore him safe along ; 
 Till with the evenincr's coolino; shade 
 He slept within the verdant glade, 
 
 Lulled by the negro's song. 
 
 Thus, we in this world's wilderness, 
 Where sin and sorrow, guilt, distress 
 
 Seem undisturbed to reign. 
 May faint because we feel alone, 
 With none to strike our favourite tone 
 
 And join our homeward strain, 
 32 
 
374 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 Yet, often in the bleakest wild 
 
 Of this dark world, some heaven-born child. 
 
 Expectant of the skies, 
 Amid the low and vicious crowd, 
 Or in the dwellings of the proud, 
 Meets our admiring eyes. 
 
 From gazing on the tender flower. 
 We lift our eyes to Him whose power 
 
 Hath all its beauty given ; 
 Who, in this atmosphere of death. 
 Hath given it life, and form, and breath. 
 
 And brilliant hues of heaven. 
 
 Our drooping faith, revived by sight, 
 Anew her pinion plumes for flight. 
 
 New hope distends the breast ; 
 With joy we mount on eagle wing, 
 With bolder tone our anthem sing, 
 
 And seek the pilgrim's rest. 
 
 March, 18361 
 
 "I AM DEBTOR." 
 
 When this passing world is done. 
 When has sunk yon glaring sun, 
 When we stand with Christ in glory. 
 Looking o'er life's finished story, 
 Then, Lord, shall I fully know — 
 Not till then — how much I owe. 
 
 When I hear the wicked call 
 On the rocks and hills to fall. 
 When I see them start and shrink 
 On the fiery deluge brink. 
 Then, Lord, shall I fully know — 
 Not till then — how much I owe. 
 
 When I stand before the throne 
 Dressed in beauty not my own. 
 When I see thee as thou art. 
 Love thee with unsinning heart, 
 Then, Lord, shall I fully know — 
 Not till then — how much I owe. 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 375 
 
 When the praise of heaven I hear, 
 Loud as thunders to the ear, 
 Loud as many waters' noise, 
 Sweet as harp's melodious voice, 
 Then, Lord, shall I fully know — 
 Not till then — how much I owe. 
 
 Even on earth, as through a glass 
 Darkly, let thy glory pass, 
 Make forgiveness feel so sweet, 
 Make thy Spirit's help so meet. 
 Even on earth, Loi-d, make me know 
 Something of how much I owe. 
 
 o 
 
 Chosen not for good in me. 
 Wakened up from wrath to flee, 
 Hidden in the Saviour's side, 
 By the Spirit sanctified. 
 Teach me. Lord, on earth to show, 
 By my love, how much I owe. 
 
 Oft I walk beneath the cloud. 
 Dark as midnight's gloomy shroud; 
 But, when fear is at its height, 
 Jesus comes, and all is light ; 
 Blessed Jesus ! bid me show 
 Doubting saints how much I owe. 
 
 When in flowery paths I tread, 
 
 Oft by sin I'm captive led ; 
 
 Oft 1 fall — but still arise — 
 
 The Spirit comes — the tempter flies ; 
 
 Blessed Spirit ! bid me show 
 
 Weary sinners all I owe. 
 
 Oft the nights of sorrow reign, 
 Weeping, sickness, sighing, pain; 
 But a night thine anger burns, 
 Morning comes and joy returns; 
 God of comforts ! bid me show 
 To thy poor, how much I owe. 
 
 May, 1837. 
 
376 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 CHILDREN CALLED TO CHRIST. 
 
 Like mist on the mountain, 
 
 Like ships on the sea, 
 So swiftly the years 
 
 Of our pilgrimage flee; 
 In the grave of our fathers 
 
 How soon we shall lie! 
 Dear children, to day 
 
 To a Saviour fly. 
 
 How sweet are the flowerets 
 
 In April and May! 
 But often the frost makes 
 
 Them wither away. 
 Like flowers you may fade: 
 
 Are you ready to die ? 
 While " yet there is room" 
 
 To a Saviour fly. 
 
 When Samuel was young, 
 
 He first knew the Lord, 
 He basked in his smile 
 
 And rejoiced in his word ; 
 So most of God's children 
 
 Are early brought nigh: 
 Oh, seek him in youth — 
 
 To a Saviour fly. 
 
 Do you ask me for pleasure ? 
 
 Then lean on his breast, 
 For there the sin-laden 
 
 And weary find rest. 
 In the valley of death 
 
 You will triumphing cry- — 
 " If this be called dying, 
 
 'Tis pleasant to die 1 
 
 ?'> 
 
 Jan. 1,1831. 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 377 
 
 "THY WORD IS A LAMP UNTO MY FEET, AND A 
 LIGHT UNTO MY PATH." 
 
 When Israel knew not where to go, 
 God made the fiery pillar glow ; 
 By night, by day, above the camp 
 It led the way — their guiding lamp ; 
 Such is thy holy Word to me 
 In day of dark perplexity. 
 When devious paths before me spread, 
 And all invite my foot to tread, 
 I hear thy voice behind me say — 
 *' Believing soul, this is the way, 
 W^alk thou in it." O gentle Dove, 
 How much thy holy law I love! 
 
 My lamp and light 
 
 In the dark night. 
 
 When Paul amid the seas seemed lost, 
 By Adria's billows wildly tossed, 
 When neither sun nor star appeared. 
 And every wave its white head reared 
 Above the ship ; beside his bed 
 An angel stood, and " Fear not" said. 
 Such is thy holy Word to me 
 When tossed upon affliction's sea; 
 When floods come in unto my soul. 
 And the deep waters o'er me roll, 
 With angel voice thy Word draws near 
 And says " 'Tis I, why shouldst thou fear 1 
 Through troubles great my saints must go 
 Into their rest, where neither wo 
 Nor sin can come; where every tear 
 From off the cheek shall disappear. 
 Wiped by God's hand." O gentle Dove, 
 Thy holy law how much I love ! 
 
 My lamp and light 
 
 In the dark night. 
 
 When holy Stephen dauntless stood 
 Before the Jews, who sought his blood, 
 With angel face he looked on high, 
 And wondering, through the parted sky, 
 
 32* 
 
378 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 Saw Jesus risen from his throne 
 To claim the martyr as his own. 
 AngcHc peace that sight bestowed, 
 With holy joy his bosom glowed, 
 And while the murderous stones they hurled, 
 His heaven-wrapt soul sought yonder world 
 Of rest. "My spirit, Saviour, keep," 
 He cried, he kneeled, he fell asleep. 
 Such be thy holy Word to me 
 In hour of life's extremity ! 
 Although no more the murdering hand 
 Is raised within our peaceful land — 
 The Church has rest, and I may ne'er 
 Be called the martyr's crown to wear : 
 Yet still, in whatsoever form 
 Death comes to me, in midnight storm 
 Whelming my bark, or in my nest 
 Gently dismissing me to rest, 
 O grant me in thy Word to see 
 A risen Saviour beckoning me. 
 No evil then my heart shall fear 
 In the dark valley. Thou art near ! 
 My trembling soul and thou, my God, 
 Alone are there ; thy staff and rod 
 Shall comfort me. O gentle Dove, 
 How much thy holy law I love ! 
 My lamp and light 
 
 1838. 
 
 In the dark night. 
 
 FOUNTAIN OF SILOAM. 
 
 Isaiah viii. C. 
 
 Beneath Moriah's rocky side 
 A gentle fountain springs, 
 
 Silent and soft its waters glide, 
 Like the peace the Spirit brings. 
 
 The thirsty Arab stoops to drink 
 Of the cool and quiet wave, 
 
 And the thirsty spirit stops to think 
 Of Him who came to save. 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 379 
 
 Siloam is the fountain's name. 
 
 It means " One sent from God;^^ 
 And thus the holy Saviour's fame, 
 
 It gently spreads abroad. 
 
 O grant that I, like this sweet well, 
 
 May Jesus' image bear, 
 And spend my life, my all, to tell 
 
 How full his mercies are. 
 
 Foot of Carmel, June, 1839. 
 
 THE SEA OF GALILEE. 
 
 How pleasant to me thy deep blue wave, 
 
 O sea of Galilee ! 
 For the glorious One who came to save 
 
 Hath often stood by thee. 
 
 Fair are the lakes in the land I love, 
 Where pine and heather grow. 
 
 But thou hast loveliness far above 
 What Nature can bestow. 
 
 It is not that the wild gazelle 
 Comes down to drink thy tide, 
 
 But He that was pierced to save from hell 
 Oft wandered by thy side. 
 
 It is not that the fig-tree grows. 
 
 And palms, in thy soft air. 
 But that Sharon's fair and bleeding rose 
 
 Once spread its fragrance there. 
 
 Graceful around thee the mountains meet, 
 
 Thou calm reposing sea; 
 But, ah, far more! the beautiful feet 
 
 Of Jesus walked o'er thee. 
 
 These days are past — Bethsaida, where? 
 
 Chorazin, where art thou? 
 His tent the wild Arab pitches there, 
 
 The wild reeds shade thv brow. 
 
380 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 « 
 
 Tell me, ye mouldering fragments, tell 
 Was the Saviour's city here ? 
 
 Lifted to heaven, has it sunk to hell, 
 With none to shed a tear 1 
 
 Ah! would my flock from thee might learn 
 How days of grace will flee ; 
 
 How all an offered Christ who spurn, 
 Shall mourn at last, like thee. 
 
 And was it beside this very sea 
 The new-risen Saviour said 
 
 Three times to Simon, " Lovest thou me? 
 My lambs and sheep then feed." 
 
 O Saviour ! gone to God's right hand ! 
 
 Yet the same Saviour still. 
 Graved on thy heart is this lovely strand 
 
 And every fragrant hill. 
 
 O ! give me, Lord, by this sacred wave, 
 
 Threefold thy love divine. 
 That I may feed, till I find my grave. 
 
 Thy flock — both thine and mine. 
 
 Sea of Galilee, mh July, 1839. 
 
 TO YONDER SIDE. 
 
 Luke viii. 22 — 25. 
 
 Behind the hills of Naphtali 
 
 The sun went slowly down. 
 Leaving on mountain, tower, and tree, 
 
 A tinge of golden brown. 
 
 The coolinfT breath of eveninsj woke 
 
 The waves of Galilee, 
 Till on the shore the waters broke 
 
 In softest melody. 
 
 " Now launch the bark," the Saviour cried. 
 The choisen twelve stood bv, 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 351 
 
 " And let us cross to yonder side, 
 Where the hills are steep and high." 
 
 Gently the bark o'er the water creeps, 
 While the swelling sail they spread, 
 
 And the wearied Saviour gently sleeps 
 With a pillow 'neath his head. 
 
 On downy bed the world seeks rest, 
 
 Sleep flies the guilty eye ; 
 But he who leans on the Father's breast 
 
 May sleep when storms are nigh. 
 
 But soon the lowering sky grew dark 
 
 O'er Bashan's rocky brow ; 
 The storm rushed down upon the bark, 
 
 And waves dashed o'er the prow. 
 
 The pale disciples trembling spake, 
 
 While yawned the watery grave, 
 " We perish, master — master, wake — 
 
 Carest thou not to save ?" 
 
 Calmly he rose with sovereign will, 
 
 And hushed the storm to rest. 
 *' Ye waves," he whispered, " Peace ! be still ! 
 
 They calmed like a pardoned breast. 
 
 So have I seen a fearful storm 
 
 O'er wakened sinner roll. 
 Till Jesus' voice and Jesus' form 
 
 Said, "Peace, thou weary soul." 
 
 And now he bends his gentle eye 
 
 His wondering followers o'er, 
 " Why raise this unbelieving cry? 
 
 I said. To yonder shore.^^ 
 
 When first the Saviour wakened me, 
 
 And showed me why he died. 
 He pointed o'er life's narrow sea. 
 
 And said, " To yonder sidey 
 
 " I am the ark where Noah dwelt. 
 And heard the deluge roar — 
 
 »» 
 
382 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 No soul can perish that has felt 
 My rest — To yonder shore.'''' 
 
 Peaceful and calm the tide of life 
 When first I sailed with thee ; 
 
 My sins forgiven, no inward strife, 
 My breast a glassy sea. 
 
 But soon the storm of passion raves, 
 
 My soul is tempest tossed; 
 Corruptions rise, like angry waves, 
 Help, Master, I am lost !" 
 
 (( 
 
 " Peace ! peace ! be still thou raging breast, 
 
 My fulness is for thee" — 
 The Saviour speaks, and all is rest, 
 
 Like the waves of Galilee. 
 
 And now I feel his holy eye 
 Upbraids my heart of pride ; 
 
 " Why raise this unbelieving cry ? 
 I said. To yonder side.'''' 
 
 Begun at the Lake of Galilee, July loth, 1839. 
 
 ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA IN THE BAY 
 
 OF CARMEL. 
 
 O Lord, this swelling, tideless sea, 
 Is like thy love in Christ to me ; 
 The ceaseless waves that fill the bay 
 Through flinty rocks have worn their way, 
 And thy unceasing love alone 
 Hath broken through this heart of stone. 
 The countless smile that gilds the deep 
 When sunbeams on the water sleep, 
 Is like thy countless smile of grace 
 When I am seen in Jesus' face. 
 No ebbing tide these waters know. 
 Pure, placid, constant in their flow ; 
 No ebb thy love to me hath known 
 Since first it chose me for thine own. 
 Or if, perchance, at thy command, 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 3S3 
 
 The wave retiring leaves the sand, 
 
 One moment all is dry, and then 
 
 It turns to fill the shore again ; 
 
 So have I found thy wondrous grace 
 
 Forsake my soul a little space; 
 
 Barren and cold, deserted, dry, 
 
 A helpless worm to thee I cry ; 
 
 Thy face is hid a little while, 
 
 But with the morning comes thy smile ; 
 
 Jesus once more his beauty shows, 
 
 And all my heart with peace o'erflows. 
 
 These deep blue waters lave the shore 
 Of Israel, as in days of yore ! 
 Though Zion like a field is ploughed, 
 And Salem covered with a cloud; 
 Though briers and thorns are tangled o'er 
 Where vine and olive twined before ; 
 Though turbaned Moslems tread the gate, 
 And Judah sits most desolate; 
 Their nets o'er Tyre the fishers spread, 
 And Carmel's top is withered ; 
 Yet still these waters clasp the shore 
 As kindly as they did before ! 
 Such is thy love to Judah's race, 
 A deep unchanging tide of grace. 
 Though scattered now at thy command 
 They pine away in every land. 
 With trembling heart and failing eyes. 
 And deep the veil on Israel lies. 
 Yet still thy word thou canst not break, 
 " Beloved for their fathers' sake." 
 
 July 18<A, 1889, near Acre, 
 
 THE CHILD COMING TO JESUS. 
 
 Suffer me to come to Jesus, 
 Mother, dear, forbid me not ; 
 
 By his blood from hell he frees us ; 
 Makes us fair, without a spot. 
 
384 
 
 SONGS OF ZION.- 
 
 Suffer me, my earthly father, 
 
 At his pierced feet to fall ; 
 Why forbid me? help me, rather; 
 Jesus is my all in all. 
 
 Suffer me to run unto him ; 
 
 Gentle sisters, come with me ; 
 O that all I love but knew him. 
 
 Then my home a heaven would be. 
 
 Loving playmates, gay and smiling. 
 Bid me not forsake the cross ; 
 
 Hard to bear is your reviling, 
 Yet for Jesus all is dross. 
 
 Yes, though all the world have chid me, 
 Father, mother, sister, friend; 
 
 Jesus never will forbid me ! 
 Jesus loves me to the end ! 
 
 Gentle Shepherd, on thy shoulder 
 
 Carry me a sinful lamb ; 
 Give me faith, and make me bolder. 
 
 Till with thee in heaven I am. 
 
 July, 1841. 
 
 OIL IN THE LAMP. 
 
 FOR A SABBATH CLASS. 
 Matthew xxv. 1 — 13. 
 
 Ten virgins, clothed in white. 
 The Bridegroom went to meet ; 
 
 Their lamps were burning bright 
 To guide his welcome feet. 
 
 Five of the band were wise; 
 
 Their lamps with oil filled high ; 
 The rest this care despise, 
 
 And take their vessels dry. 
 
SONGS OF ZION. 355 
 
 Long time the Lord abode, 
 
 Down came the shades of night; 
 The weary virgins nod, 
 
 And then they sleep outright. 
 
 At midnight came the cry 
 
 Upon their startled ear ; 
 " Behold the Bridegroom nigh, 
 
 To light his steps appear !" 
 
 They trim their lamps; but vain 
 
 The foolish virgins toil : 
 " Our lamps are out, O deign 
 
 To give us of your oil !" 
 
 " Not so" — the wise ones cry — 
 
 " No oil have we to spare ; 
 But swiftly run and buy, 
 
 That you the joy may share." 
 
 They went to buy, when, lo ! 
 
 The Bridegroom comes in state ; 
 Wiihin those ready go. 
 
 And shut the golden gate. 
 
 The foolish virgins now 
 
 Before the gateway crowd ; 
 With terror on their brow, 
 
 They knock, and cry aloud : — 
 
 *' Lord open to our call ! 
 
 Hast thou our names forgot?" 
 Sadly the accents fall — 
 
 " Depart, I know you not." 
 
 Learn here, my child, how vain 
 This world, with all its lies; 
 
 Those who the kingdom gain 
 Alone are truly wise. 
 
 How vain the Christian name, 
 If still you live in sin : — 
 
 A lamp, and wick, and flame. 
 No drop of oil within. 
 33 
 
386 SONGS OF ZION. 
 
 Is your lamp filled, my child, 
 With oil from Christ above? 
 
 Has he your heart, so wild, 
 Made soft and full of love? 
 
 Then you are ready now 
 With Christ to enter in ; 
 
 To see his holy brow. 
 And bid farewell to sin. 
 
 Sinners ! behold the gate 
 
 Of Jesus open still; 
 Come, ere it be too late, 
 
 And enter if you will. 
 
 The Saviour's gentle hand 
 Knocks at your door to-day ; 
 
 But vain his loud demand ; 
 You spurn his love away. 
 
 So at the Saviour's door 
 
 You'll knock, with trembling heart ; 
 The day of mercy o'er, 
 
 Jesus will say — Depart ! 
 
 1841. 
 
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