moved. Several years ago, when preaching at Berwick on Tweed, he was under a strong apprehenfion, from the nature of the disorder with which he was feized-giddinefs, that he should fall down dead in the pulpit; but felt, as he expreffed it to a brother in the ministry, no other concern than for the tumult and disturbance which it would occafion. He knew, as he said, that whenever he fhould enter on the unknown and untried ftate, he should still serve the fame good Master.

He had been for fome time in a declining state of health. But a tranfient return of favourable fymptoms led his friends to hope, that his life was to be fpared for further usefulness. He administered the Lord's Supper on the 12th of October, and preached twice the fuccceding Lord's day. But thefe promifing appearances foon vanithed. On the 24th he relapfed, and all hopes of his continuing in this world were fpeedily extinguished. On the Monday before his deceafe, one of his elders took notice of the lowness of his fpirits. "It does pot, however," faid he "proceed from melancholy. For though I do not enjoy fuch triumphant views in the profpect of death as the Lord is pleafed to grant to fome of his people, yet have I a good hope through grace. Being not yet out of the enemy's ground, the Lord may fee meet to withdraw the light I have, and make me to walk in darkness; or, he may be pleafed to grant me fuch a manifeftation of his love as I have never before experienced. But, however this may be, I cleave to the Lord Jefus, trufting in him for redemption through his blood, which will cleanfe me from all my fins." A little after he added, "I have preached the Gospel to vou for nearly 23 years, in much weaknefs indeed, but, God knoweth, to the beft of my abilities, having the teftimony of my confcience, that in fimplicity and godly fincerity, I have had my converfation with you. I die in the faith of thofe doctrines I have preached to you, laying down this mortal body in union with Christ, to be raised a glorious body on the morning of the refurrection. I have nothing of my own righteoufnefs to plead before God. No! no! I look upon myself as the greateft finner in Wooler. No man knows the wickedness of my heart but myfelf; and I know not the half of it. But the blood of Jefus cleanfeth from all tin. To a brother in the miniftry, who was fpeaking" of the profpect of his recovery," he feebly replied "not my will"-His labouring breath (for he was cut off, by a fpafmodic affection) could not enable him to finifh the fentence. A few hours

before his departure, "Oh !" said he, to a friend who was fitting by his bed, "how unfit is a death-bed to prepare for death. I can scarce at this time put one thought to another. O beware of putting off the concerns of eternity till the time of fickness, and the bed of death." In this manner, while the powers of articulation remained, did the good man employ his latest breath in the work of God. Quietly waiting his difmiffion from the earthly tabernacle, he entered on Sabbath morning, Nov. 2, 1800, we doubt not, into that reft above, of which the Sabbaths below are types; and for which the facred exercises of these days, had, to him, for many years, been a delightful preparation. "I have known him," fays a neighbouring minifter who preached the Lord's day after his death, to his congregation from Heb. xiii. 7: "I have known him about 33 years, and during all that time, have beheld and obferved the fame modeft, meek and unaffuming mind; exemplary in a moft fincere regard for religion; leading him to act on all occafions, as one of the children of light, and a genuine difciple of Chrift."

His bereaved church will long and affectionately cherish the memory of their worthy paftor, who had the fpiritual rule over them, and fpake to them the word of God. They will ftudy to follow his faith, confidering the end of his converfation. They will be comforted by recollecting that the Great Shepherd lives; and that his bowels of sympathy move in their behalf. They will earneftly and unitedly prefent their fupplications and prayers to Him, that He may fend them another paftor according to his own heart, anointed with the fame Spirit, to feed them, and to lead them in the way to future bleffedness.

The following beautiful defcription, by Goldfmith, is almoft in every word literally applicable to our deceased brother. Let the verfes be repeated to one of his congregation, the plaineft fhepherd who tends his flock on the Cheviot hills, and he will inftantly fay, "That poetry is made on our late minifter."

"Near yonder copfe, where once the garden smil'd,
And still where many a garden-flower grows wild,
There, where a few torn fhrubs the place difclofe,
The village preacher's modeft manfion rofe.
A man he was, to all the country dear,
And paffing rich with forty pounds a year.
Remote from town he ran his godly race,

Nor e'er had chang'd, nor wifh'd to change, his place.

Unfkilful he to fawn, or feek for pow'r,
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour.
Far other aims his heart had learned to prize,
More bent to raise the wretched, than to rise.
His houfe was known to all the vagrant train,
He chid their wand'ring, but reliev'd their pain.
Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And even his failings lean'd to virtue's fide.
But in his duty, prompt at every call,

He watch'd, and wept, he pray'd, and felt for all.
And as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new fledg`d offspring to the skies;
He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay,
Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.
At Church, with meek and unaffected grace,
His looks adorn'd the venerab'e place.

Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway, ››
And fools who come to fcoff, remain'd to pray.
The fervice paft, around the pious man,
With ready zeal each honest ruftic ran;
E'en children follow'd with endearing wile,

And pluck'd his gown, to thare the good man's finile.
His ready fmile a parent's warmth exprefs'd,

Their welfare pleas'd him, and their cares distress'd,
To them his heart, his love, his griefs were giv'n,
But all his ferions thoughts had relt in heav'n.
As fome tall cliff that lifts its awful form,
Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the form;
Though round its breaft the rolling clouds are spread,
Eternal funfline fettles on its head."

1

DESERTED VILLAGE.

I

LETTER II.

ON THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

[See Evangelical Magazine for February last, p. 56 ]

MY DEAR FRIEND,

HAVE very seriously reflected upon the subject of our converfation when I faw you, as well as upon the contents of your letters. I am conftrained to write to you again, not only from a sense of duty as your paftor, but from love to your immortal foul.

It appears to me that your departure from the truth, with reference to the effential divinity of the Son of God, has arifen from your attending more to the voice of reafon than to the voice of divine revelation. Inftead of receiving what the Lord condefcended to reveal, you are difpofed to afk, How can these things be?

I can but confider it a dangerous fentiment when I hear you fay, you "Believe that Jefus Chrift has no glory, but what he received, and that the fame honour might have been conferred on any other creature, had it been the will of the Divine Father," which you appear to ground on Col. i. 19. "It pleafed the Father that in him thould all fulness dwell." Perhaps, if you more ferioufly and attentively confider that text, it will appear that Paul does not there fpeak of the fulnefs of the godhead, but of that inexhauf tible fulness of spiritual bleffings, from which all God's people are conftantly fupplied. "Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."* But fuppofing this text to refer to the fulness of the godhead, it can only prove, that it was the pleasure of the Father, that this fulness fhould refide in Chrift's human nature, which is what I by no means deny. I obferve also with grief, that you do not always treat the fubject so seriously as it ought to be treated. When you fay, "You have no right to fet up the bleffed Redeemer as the true God;" and when you are fpeaking of the Holy Spirit as a perfon, you fay, "As you and others are pleafed to call him." My dear friend, I would humbly implore divine inftruction, while I confider the fubject, and I defire to speak of Jefus, and the Holy Spirit, as they are revealed in the facred word of God.

In my former letter I mentioned fome of the names by which Chrift is called, and fome of thofe divine perfections, which, it appears to me are afcribed to him in Scripture. Í beseech you again to compare what I have written with the oracles of truth.

You obferve that the eternal Father is reprefented as the only wife God, which is readily granted. You conclude, therefore, that the Son of God must be inferior. I afk, does not the Son of God bear the fame character to denote his equality? I entreat you carefully to read, and confider the 24th and 25th verfes of Jude's fhort epiftle; the words follow: "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultlefs before the prefence of his glory with exceeding joy; To the only wife God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now. and ever, Amen." I readily acknowledge that I have been used to confider the Apostle as speaking of our glorious Immanuel; and here I would ferioufly propofe a few queftions for your confideration.

First, Who is it that is able, and does actually keep * John i, 16. † Røm. xvi. 17.

believers

believers from finally falling?-Is it not Jefus Christ ?— Does not the Apostle speak of him when he fays, "I know whom I have believed, and am perfuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day!"* Has not this glorious perfon faid," My grace is fufficient for thee, my ftrength is made perfect in weaknefs?" Paul gloried in his infirmities, that the power of Chrift might rest upon him.† I conclude, therefore, that Jefus, who faves to the uttermoft, is he who is able to keep us from falling.

I ask again, who will prefent the church faultless before the glorious prefence of Jehovah with exceeding joy? Will not Jefus Chrift? He loved his people, and gave himfelf for them, "That he might present to himself a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Again Chrift reconciled his chosen to God, in the body of his flesh thro' death," To prefent them holy and unblameable, and unreprovable in his fight."§

I ask, once more, who is the Saviour of them that believe? Surely it is Jefus: "Neither is there falvation in any other." Obferve, Jude speaks of "the only wife God our Saviour." Are not glory and majefty, dominion and power, due to Chrift? Read the following texts. "To him be glory and domi nion for ever and ever."¶ "For we were eye-witnesses of his inajefty."§§"Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing-bleffing, honour, glory and power, be unto him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."|||| For thefe reafons I conclude the above paffage to be applicable to the Son of God.

I have been in the country, which has prevented my writing before; but if you have any thing to communicate before the Church Meeting, which will be on next Monday, if the Lord permit, I fhall be glad to hear from you.

'I remain,

With fincere concern for your foul's eternal welfare, your faithful Paftor,