,the ,biography of ,robert ,murray ,m',cheyne ,illustration3 ,robert ,murray ,m',cheyne with ,signature 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,biography of ,robert ,murray ,m',cheyne ,,by ,,andrew ,a4 ,,bonar ,,zondervan ,,publishing ,,house ,,grand ,,rapids1 ,,michigan 99 99 99 99 99 ,,publisher',s ,,preface ,the telling of the deeply spiritual life story of the young minister of the ,gospel of ,st4 ,peters ,church1 ,dundee1 ,scotland1 ,robert ,murray ,m',cheyne1 has been used of ,god to bring challenge1 blessing and inspiration to hundreds of thousands down through the years since his death in #ahdc at the early age of #cj4 ,few men have lived a life filled with such power and blessing in such a short span of years4 ,dr4 ,andrew ,a4 ,bonar's biography of this stalwart young man of ,god has been the standard recognized work on the life of this prince among men4 ,this biography is from the larger ,memoirs and ,remains of the ,rev4 ,robert ,murray ,m',cheyne with just the memoirs--or biography--reprinted4 ,the remains1 letters and sermons of ,m',cheyne have been recently republished in the ,wyckliffe ,series issued by the ,moody ,press1 but we are presenting in the pages of this volume ,bonar's soul-stirring biography of this young man who was so completely and wholly surrendered to the will of ,god4 ,dr4 ,wilbur ,m4 ,smith1 in his ,profitable ,bible ,study1 says1 ,every minister1 of whatever denomination1 should have this marvelous work4 ,the publishers of this unabridged edition send it forth once again with the earnest prayer that ,god will continue to use it to the inspiration and challenge of young and old alike to realize what can be done with a life completely and absolutely dedicated to ,him4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,memoir4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,his ,,youth1 ,,and ,,preparation ,,for ,,the ,,ministry ,many shall rejoice at his birth2 for he shall be great in the sight of the ,lord--,luke #a3ad4 ,in the midst of the restless activity of such a day as ours1 it will be felt by ministers of ,christ to be useful in no common degree1 to trace the steps of one who but lately left us1 and who1 during the last years of his short life1 walked calmly in almost unbroken fellowship with the ,,father and the ,,son4 ,the date of his birth was ,may #ba1 #ahac4 ,about that time1 as is now evident to us who can look back on the past1 the ,great ,head had a purpose of blessing for the ,church of ,scotland4 ,eminent men of ,god appeared to plead the cause of ,christ4 ,the ,cross was lifted up boldly in the midst of ,church ,courts which had long been ashamed of the gospel of ,christ4 ,more spirituality and deeper seriousness began a few years onward to prevail among the youth of our divinity halls4 ,in the midst of such events1 whereby the ,lord was secretly preparing a rich blessing for souls in all our ,borders1 the subject of this ,memoir was born4 ,many were to rejoice at his birth2 for he was one of the blessings which were beginning to be dropped down upon ,scotland1 though none then knew that one was born whom hundreds would look up to as their spiritual father4 ,the place of his birth was ,edinburgh1 where his parents resided4 ,he was the youngest child of the family1 and was called ,,robert ,,murray1 after the name of some of his kindred4 ,from his infancy his sweet and affectionate temper was remarked by all who knew him4 ,his mind was quick in its attainments2 he was easily taught the common lessons of youth1 and some of his peculiar endowments began early to appear4 ,at the age of four1 while recovering from some illness1 he selected as his recreation the study of the ,greek alphabet1 and was able to name all the letters1 and write them in a rude way upon a slate4 ,a year after1 he made rapid progress in the ,english class1 and at an early period became somewhat eminent among his schoolfellows for his melodious voice and powers of recitation4 ,there were at that time catechetical exercises held in the ,tron ,church1 in the interval between sermons2 and some friends remember the interest often excited in the hearers by his correct and sweet recitation of the ,psalms and passages of ,scripture4 ,but as yet he knew not the ,lord1 he lived to himself1 having no hope1 and without ,god in the world4 ,eph4 #b3ab4 ,in ,october #ahba he entered the ,high ,school1 where he continued his literary studies during the usual period of six years4 ,he maintained a high place in his classes1 and in the ,rector's class distinguished himself by eminence in geography and recitation4 ,it was during the last year of his attendance at the ,high ,school that he first ventured on poetical composition1 the subject being ,greece1 but living ,greece no more4 ,the lines are characterized chiefly by enthusiasm for liberty and ,grecian heroism1 for in these days his soul had never soared to a higher region4 ,his companions speak of him as one who had even then peculiarities that drew attention3 of a light1 tall form--full of elasticity and vigor--ambitious1 yet noble in his dispositions1 disdaining everything like meanness or deceit4 ,some would have been apt to regard him as exhibiting many traits of a ,christian character2 but his susceptible mind had not1 at that time1 a relish for any higher joy than the refined gaieties of society1 and for such pleasures as the song and the dance could yield4 ,he himself regarded these as days of ungodliness--days wherein he cherished a pure morality1 but lived in heart a ,pharisee4 ,i have heard him say that there was a correctness and propriety in his demeanor at times of devotion1 and in public worship1 which some1 who knew not his heart1 were ready to put to the account of real feeling4 ,and this experience of his own heart made him look with jealousy on the mere outward signs of devotion in dealing with souls4 ,he had learnt in his own case how much a soul1 unawakened to a sense of guilt1 may have satisfaction in performing from the proud consciousness of integrity towards man1 and a sentimental devotedness of mind that chastens the feelings without changing the heart4 ,he had great delight in rural scenery4 ,most of his summer vacations used to be spent in ,dumfriesshire1 and his friends in the parish of ,ruthwell and its vicinity retain a vivid remembrance of his youthful days4 ,his poetic temperament led him to visit whatever scenes were fitted to stir the soul4 ,at all periods of his life1 also1 he had a love of enterprise4 ,during the summer months he occasionally made excursions with his brother1 or some intimate friend1 to visit the lakes and hills of our ,highlands1 cherishing thereby1 unawares1 a fondness for travel1 that was most useful to him in after days4 ,in one of these excursions1 a somewhat romantic occurrence befell the travellers1 such as we might rather have expected to meet with in the records of his ,eastern journey4 ,he and his friends had set out on foot to explore1 at their leisure1 ,dunkeld1 and the highlands in its vicinity4 ,they spent a day at ,dunkeld1 and about sunset set out again with the view of crossing the hills to ,strathardle4 ,a dense mist spread over the hills soon after they began to climb4 ,they pressed on1 but lost the track that might have guided them safely to the glen4 ,they knew not how to direct their steps to any dwelling4 ,night came on1 and they had no resource but to couch among the heath1 with no other covering than the clothes they wore4 ,they felt hungry and cold2 and1 awaking at midnight1 the awful stillness of the lonely mountains spread a strange fear over them4 ,but1 drawing close together1 they again lay down to rest1 and slept soundly till the cry of some wild birds and the morning dawn aroused them4 ,entering the ,edinburgh ,university in ,november #ahbg1 he gained some prize in all the various classes he attended4 ,in private he studied the modern languages2 and gymnastic exercises at that time gave him unbounded delight4 ,he used his pencil with much success1 and then it was that his hand was prepared for sketching the scenes of the ,holy ,land4 ,he had a very considerable knowledge of music1 and himself sang correctly and beautifully4 ,this1 too1 was a gift which was used to the glory of the ,lord in after days1--wonderfully enlivening his secret devotions1 and enabling him to lead the song of praise in the congregation wherever occasion required4 ,poetry also was a never-failing recreation2 and his taste in this department drew the attention of ,professor ,wilson1 who adjudged him the prize in the ,moral ,philosophy class for a poem1 ,on the ,covenanters4 ,in the winter of #ahca he commenced his studies in the ,divinity ,hall under ,dr4 ,chalmers1 and the study of ,church ,history under ,dr4 ,welsh4 ,it may be naturally asked1 ,what led him to wish to preach salvation to his fellow-sinners8 ,could he say1 like ,robert ,bruce1 ,i was first called to my grace1 before ,i obeyed my calling to the ministry8 ,few questions are more interesting than this2 and our answer to it will open up some of the wonderful ways of ,him whose path is in the great waters1 and whose footsteps are not known1 ,psalm #gg3ai2 for the same event that awakened his soul to a true sense of sin and misery1 led him to the ministry4 ,during his attendance at the literary and philosophical classes he felt occasional impressions1 none of them perhaps of much depth4 ,there can be no doubt that he himself looked upon the death of his eldest brother1 ,david1 as the event which awoke him from the sleep of nature1 and brought the first beam of divine light into his soul4 ,by that providence the ,lord was calling one soul to enjoy the treasures of grace1 while ,he took the other into the possession of glory4 ,in this brother1 who was his senior by eight or nine years1 the light of divine grace shone before men with rare and solemn loveliness4 ,his classical attainments were very high2 and1 after the usual preliminary studies1 he had been admitted ,writer to the ,signet4 ,one distinguishing quality of his character was his sensitive truthfulness4 ,in a moment would the shadow flit across his brow1 if any incident were related wherein there was the slightest exaggeration2 or even when nothing but truth was spoken1 if only the deliverer seemed to take up a false or exaggerated view4 ,he must not merely speak the whole truth himself1 but he must have the hearer also to apprehend the whole truth4 ,he spent much of his leisure hours in attending to the younger members of the family4 ,tender and affectionate1 his grieved look when they vexed him by resisting his counsels1 had 7it is said7 something in it so persuasive that it never failed in the end to prevail on those with whom his words had not succeeded4 ,his youngest brother1 at a time when he lived according to the course of this world1 was the subject of many of his fervent prayers4 ,but a deep melancholy1 in a great degree the effect of bodily ailments1 settled down on ,david's soul4 ,many weary months did he spend in awful gloom1 till the trouble of his soul wasted away his body3 but the light broke in before his death2 joy from the face of a fully reconciled ,father above lighted up his face2 and the peace of his last days was the sweet consolation left to his afflicted friends1 when1 #hth ,july #ahea1 he fell asleep in ,jesus4 ,the death of this brother1 with all its circumstances1 was used by the ,holy ,spirit to produce a deep impression on ,robert's soul4 ,in many respects--even in the gifts of a poetic mind--there had been a congeniality between him and ,david4 ,the vivacity of ,robert's ever active and lively mind was the chief point of difference4 ,this vivacity admirably fitted him for public life2 it needed only to be chastened and solemnized1 and the event that had now occurred wrought this effect4 ,a few months before1 the happy family circle had been broken up by the departure of the second brother for ,india1 in the ,bengal ,medical ,service2 but when1 in the course of the summer1 ,david was removed from them forever1 there were impressions left such as could never be effaced1 at least from the mind of ,robert4 ,naturally of an intensely affectionate disposition1 this stroke moved his whole soul4 ,his quiet hours seem to have been often spent in thoughts of him who was now gone to glory4 ,there are some lines remaining in which his poetic mind has most touchingly1 and with uncommon vigor1 painted him whom he had lost1--lines all the more interesting1 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 himself4 ,some time after his brother's death he had tried to preserve the features of his well-remembered form1 by attempting a portrait from memory2 but throwing aside the pencil in despair1 he took up the pen1 and poured out the fulness of his heart4 ,,on ,,painting ,,the ,,miniature ,,likeness ,,of ,,one ,,departed4 ,,alas6 not perfect yet--another touch1 ,and still another1 and another still1 ,till those dull lips breathe life1 and yonder eye ,lose its lack lustre hue1 and be lit up ,with the warm glance of living feeling4 ,no-- ,it never can be6 ,ah1 poor1 powerless art6 ,most vaunting1 yet most impotent1 thou seek'st ,to trace the thousand1 thousand shades and lights ,that glowed conspicuous on the blessed face ,of him thou fain wouldst imitate--to bind ,down to the fragile canvas the wild play ,of thought and mild affection1 which were wont ,to dwell in the serious eye1 and play around ,the placid mouth4 ,thou seek'st to give again ,that which the burning soul1 inhabiting ,its clay-built tenement1 alone can give-- ,to leave on cold dead matter the impress ,of living mind--to bid a line1 a shade1 ,speak forth1 not words1 but the soft intercourse ,which the immortal spirit1 while on earth ,it tabernacles1 breathes from every pore-- ,thoughts not converted into words1 and hopes1 ,and fears1 and hidden joys1 and griefs1 unborn ,into the world of sound1 but beaming forth ,in that expression which no words1 or work ,of cunning artist1 can express4 ,in vain1 ,alas6 in vain6 ,come hither1 ,painter2 come1 ,take up once more thine instruments--thy brush ,and palette--if thy haughty art be1 as thou say'st1 ,omnipotent1 and if thy hand can dare ,to wield creative power4 ,renew thy toil1 ,and let my memory1 vivified by love1 ,which ,death's cold separation has but warmed ,and rendered sacred dictate to thy skill1 ,and guide thy pencil4 ,from the jetty hair ,take off that gaudy lustre that but mocks ,the true original2 and let the dry1 ,soft1 gentle-turning locks1 appear instead4 ,what though to fashion's garish eye they seem ,untutored and ungainly8 still to me1 ,than folly's foppish head-gear1 lovelier far ,are they1 because bespeaking mental toil1 ,labor assiduous1 through the golden days 7,golden if so improved7 of guileless youth1 ,unwearied mining in the precious stores ,of classic lore--and better1 nobler still1 ,in ,god's own holy writ4 ,and scatter here ,and there a thread of grey1 to mark the grief ,that prematurely checked the bounding flow ,of the warm current in his veins1 and shed ,an early twilight o'er so bright a dawn4 ,no wrinkle sits upon that brow6--and thus ,it ever was4 ,the angry strife and cares ,of avaricious miser did not leave ,their base memorial on so fair a page4 ,the eyebrows next draw closer down1 and throw ,a softening shade o'er the mild orbs below4 ,let the full eyelid1 drooping1 half conceal ,the back-retiring eye2 and point to earth ,the long brown lashes that bespeak a soul ,like his who said1 ,i am not worthy1 ,lord6 ,from underneath these lowly turning lids1 ,let not shine forth the gaily sparkling light ,which dazzles oft1 and oft deceives2 nor yet ,the dull unmeaning lustre that can gaze ,alike on all the world4 ,but paint an eye ,in whose half-hidden1 steady light ,i read ,a truth-inquiring mind2 a fancy1 too1 ,that could array in sweet poetic garb ,the truth he found2 while on his artless harp ,he touched the gentlest feelings1 which the blaze ,of winter's hearth warms in the homely heart4 ,and oh6 recall the look of faith sincere1 ,with which that eye would scrutinize the page ,that 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 death1 and seek ,a better country4 ,ah6 how oft that eye ,would turn on me1 with pity's tenderest look1 ,and1 only half-upbraiding1 bid me flee ,from the vain idols of my boyish heart6 ,it was about the same time1 while still feeling the sadness of this bereavement1 that he wrote the fragment entitled ,,the ,,righteous ,,perisheth1 ,,and ,,no ,,man ,,layeth ,,it ,,to ,,heart4 ,a grave ,i know ,where earthly show ,is not--a mound ,whose gentle round ,sustains the load ,of a fresh sod4 ,its shape is rude1 ,and weeds intrude ,their yellow flowers-- ,in gayer bowers ,unknown4 ,the grass1 ,a tufted mass1 ,is rank and strong1 ,unsmoothed and long4 ,no rosebud there ,embalms the air2 ,no lily chaste ,adorns the waste1 ,nor daisy's head ,bedecks the bed4 ,no myrtles wave ,above that grave2 ,nor heather-bell ,is there to tell ,of gentle friend ,who sought to lend ,a sweeter sleep ,to him who deep ,beneath the ground ,repose has found4 ,no stone of woe ,is there to show ,the name1 or tell ,how passing well ,he loved his ,god1 ,and how he trod ,the humble road ,that leads through sorrow ,to a bright morrow ,unknown in life1 ,and far from strife1 ,he lived3--and though ,the magic flow ,of genius played ,around his head1 ,and he could weave ,the song at eve1 ,and touch the heart1 ,with gentlest art2 ,or care beguile1 ,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 the joys ,of worldly noise1 ,and humbly laid ,his drooping head ,upon the cross2 ,and thought the loss ,of all that earth ,contained--of mirth1 ,of loves1 and fame1 ,and pleasures' name-- ,no sacrifice ,to win the prize1 ,which ,christ secured1 ,when ,he endured ,for us the load-- ,the wrath of ,god6 ,with many a tear1 ,and many a fear1 ,with many a sigh ,and heart-wrung cry ,of timid faith1 ,he sought the breath3 ,but which can give ,the power to live-- ,whose word alone ,can melt the stone1 ,bid tumult cease1 ,and all be peace6 ,he sought not now ,to wreathe his brow ,with laurel bough4 ,he sought no more ,to gather store ,of earthly lore1 ,nor vainly strove ,to share the love ,of heaven above1 ,with aught below ,that earth can show ,the smile forsook ,his cheek--his look ,was cold and sad2 ,and even the glad ,return of morn1 ,when the ripe corn ,waves o'er the plains1 ,and simple swains ,with joy prepare ,the toil to share ,of harvest1 brought ,no lively thought ,to him4 ,and spring adorns ,the sunny morns ,with opening flowers2 ,and beauty showers ,o'er lawn and mead2 ,its virgin head ,the snowdrop steeps ,in dew1 and peeps ,the crocus forth1 ,nor dreads the north4 ,but even the spring ,no smile can bring ,to him1 whose eye ,sought in the sky ,for brighter scenes1 ,where intervenes ,no darkening cloud ,of sin to shroud ,the gazer's view4 ,thus sadly flew ,the merry spring2 ,and gaily sing ,the birds their loves ,in summer groves4 ,but not for him ,their notes they trim4 ,his ear is cold-- ,his tale is told4 ,above his grave ,the grass may wave-- ,the crowd pass by ,without a sigh ,above the spot4 ,they knew him not-- ,they could not know2 ,and even though1 ,why should they shed ,above the dead ,who slumbers here ,a single tear8 ,i cannot weep1 ,though in my sleep ,i sometimes clasp ,with love's fond grasp ,his gentle hand1 ,and see him stand ,beside my bed1 ,and lean his head ,upon my breast1 ,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 bind1 ,and all the lies ,the soul that blind1 ,be 444 ,nothing could more fully prove the deep impression which the event made than these verses4 ,but it was not a transient regret1 nor was it the sorrow of the world4 ,he was in his eighteenth year when his brother died2 and if this was not the year of his new birth1 at least it was the year when the first streaks of dawn appeared in his soul4 ,from that day forward his friends observed a change4 ,his poetry was pervaded with serious thought1 and all his pursuits began to be followed out in another spirit4 ,he engaged in the labors of a ,sabbath school1 and began to seek ,god to his soul1 in the diligent reading of the word1 and attendance on a faithful ministry4 ,how important this period of his life appeared in his own view1 may be gathered from his allusions to it in later days4 ,a year after1 he writes in his diary3 ,on this morning last year came the first overwhelming blow to my worldliness2 how blessed to me1 ,thou1 ,o ,god1 only knowest1 who hast made it so4 ,every year he marked this day as one to be remembered1 and occasionally its recollections seem to have come in like a flood4 ,in a letter to a friend 7#hth ,july #ahdb71 upon a matter entirely local1 he concludes by a postscript3 ,this day eleven years ago1 my holy brother ,david entered into his rest1 aged #bf4 ,and on that same day1 writing a note to one of his flock in ,dundee 7who had asked him to furnish a preface to a work printed #agdj1 ,letters on ,spiritual ,subjects71 he commends the book1 and adds3 ,pray for me1 that ,i may be made holier and wiser--less like myself1 and more like my heavenly ,master2 that ,i may not regard my life1 if so be ,i may finish my course with joy4 ,this day eleven years ago1 ,i lost my loved and loving brother1 and began to seek a ,brother who cannot die4 ,it was to companions who could sympathize in his feelings that he unbosomed himself4 ,at that period it was not common for inquiring souls to carry their case to their pastor4 ,a conventional reserve upon theses subjects prevailed even among lively believers4 ,it almost seemed as if they were ashamed of the ,son of man4 ,this reserve appeared to him very sinful2 and he felt it to be so great an evil1 that in after days he was careful to encourage anxious souls to converse with him freely4 ,the nature of his experience1 however1 we have some means of knowing4 ,on one occasion1 a few of us who had studied together were reviewing the ,lord's dealings with our souls1 and how ,he had brought us to himself all very nearly at the same time1 though without any special instrumentality4 ,he stated that there was nothing sudden in his case1 and that he was led to ,christ through deep and ever-abiding1 but not awful or distracting1 convictions4 ,in this we see the ,lord's sovereignty4 ,in bringing a soul to the ,saviour1 the ,holy ,spirit invariably leads it to very deep consciousness of sin2 but then ,he causes this consciousness of sin to be more distressing and intolerable to some than to others4 ,but in one point does the experience of all believing sinners agree in this matter1 viz4 their soul presented to their view nothing but an abyss of sin1 when the grace of ,god that bringeth salvation appeared4 ,the ,holy ,spirit carried on his work in the subject of this ,memoir1 by continuing to deepen in him the conviction of his ungodliness1 and the pollution of his whole nature4 ,and all his life long1 he viewed original sin1 not as an excuse for his actual sins1 but as an aggravation of them all4 ,in this view he was of the mind of ,david1 taught by the unerring ,spirit of ,truth4 ,see ,psalm #ea3d1 #e4 ,at first light dawned slowly2 so slowly1 that for a considerable time he still relished an occasional plunge into scenes of gaiety4 ,even after entering the ,divinity ,hall1 he could be persuaded to indulge in lighter pursuits1 at least during the two first years of his attendance2 but it was with growing alarm4 ,when hurried away by such worldly joys1 ,i find him writing thus3--,sept4 #ad4--,may there be few such records as this in my biography4 ,then1 ,dec4 #i4--;,a thorn in my side--much torment4 ,as the unholiness of his pleasures became more apparent1 he writes3--,march #aj1 #ahcb4--;,i hope never to play cards again4 ,march #be4--,never visit on a ,sunday evening again4 ,april #aj4--;,absented myself from the dance2 upbraidings ill to bear4 ,but ,i must try to bear the cross4 ,it seems to be in reference to the receding tide1 which thus for a season repeatedly drew him back to the world1 that on ,july #h1 #ahcf1 he records3 ,this morning five years ago1 my dear brother ,david died1 and my heart for the first time knew true bereavement4 ,truly it was all well4 ,let me be dumb1 for ,thou didst it3 and it was good for me that ,i was afflicted4 ,i know not that any providence was ever more abused by man than that was by me2 and yet1 ,lord1 what mountains ,thou comest over6 none was ever more blessed to me4 ,to us who can look at the results1 it appears probable that the ,lord permitted him thus to try many broken cisterns1 and to taste the wormwood of many earthly streams1 in order that in after days1 by the side of the fountain of living waters1 he might point to the world he had forever left1 and testify the surpassing preciousness of what he had now found4 ,mr4 ,alexander ,somerville 7afterwards minister of ,anderston ,church1 ,glasgow7 was his familiar friend and companion in the gay scenes of his youth4 ,and he1 too1 about this time1 having been brought to taste the powers of the world to come1 they united their efforts for each other's welfare4 ,they met together for the study of the ,bible1 and used to exercise themselves in the ,septuagint ,greek and the ,hebrew original4 ,but oftener still they met for prayer and solemn converse2 and carrying on all their studies in the same spirit1 watched each other's steps in the narrow way4 ,he thought himself much profited1 at this period1 by investigating the subject of ,election and the ,free ,grace of ,god4 ,but it was the reading of ,the ,sum of ,saving ,knowledge1 generally appended to our ,confession of ,faith1 that brought him to a clear understanding of the way of acceptance with ,god4 ,those who are acquainted with its admirable statements of truth1 will see how well fitted it was to direct an inquiring soul4 ,i find him some years afterwards recording3--,march #aa1 #ahcd4--,read in the ,sum of ,saving ,knowledge1 the work which ,i think first of all wrought a saving change in me4 ,how gladly would ,i renew the reading of it1 if that change might be carried on to perfection6 ,it will be observed that he never reckoned his soul saved1 notwithstanding all his convictions and views of sins1 until he really went into the ,holiest of all on the warrant of the ,redeemer's work2 for assuredly a sinner is still under wrath1 until he has actually availed himself of the way to the ,father opened up by ,jesus4 ,all his knowledge of his sinfulness1 and all his sad feeling of his own need and danger1 cannot place him one step farther off from the lake of fire4 ,it is he that comes to ,christ that is saved4 ,before this period he had received a bias towards the ministry from his brother ,david1 who used to speak of the ministry as the most blessed work on earth1 and often expressed the greatest delight in the hope that his younger brother might one day become a minister of ,christ4 ,and now1 with altered views1--with an eye that could gaze on heaven and hell1 and a heart that felt the love of a reconciled ,god1--he sought to become a herald of salvation4 ,he had begun to keep a register of his studies1 and the manner in which his time slipped away1 some months before his brother's death4 ,for a considerable time this register contains almost nothing but the bare incidents of the diary1 and on ,sabbaths the texts of the sermons he had heard4 ,there is one gleam of serious thought--but it is the only one--during that period4 ,on occasion of ,dr4 ,andrew ,thomson's funeral1 he records the deep and universal grief that pervaded the town1 and then subjoins3 ,pleasing to see so much public feeling excited on the decease of so worthy a man4 ,how much are the times changed within these eighteen centuries1 since the time when ,joseph besought the body in secret1 and when he and ,nicodemus were the only ones found to bear the body to the tomb6 ,it is in the end of the year that evidences of a change appear4 ,from that period and ever onward his dry register of every-day incidents is varied with such passages as the following3-- ,nov4 #ab4--,reading ,h4 ,martyn's ,memoirs4 ,would ,i could imitate him1 giving up father1 mother1 country1 house1 health1 life1 all--for ,christ4 ,and yet1 what hinders8 ,lord1 purify me1 and give me strength to dedicate myself1 my all1 to ,thee6 ,dec4 #d4--,reading ,legh ,richmond's ,life4 ,poetentia profunda1 non sine lacrymis4 ,nunquam me ipsum1 tam vilem1 tam inutilem1 tam pauperim1 et prcipue tam ingratum1 adhuc vidi4 ,sint lacrym dedicationis me pignora6' ,deep penitence1 not unmixed with tears4 ,i never before saw myself so vile1 so useless1 so poor1 and1 above all1 so ungrateful4 ,may these tears be the pledges of my self-dedication6 ,there is frequently at this period a sentence in ,latin occurring like the above in the midst of other matter1 apparently with the view of giving freer expression to his feelings regarding himself4 ,dec4 #i4--;,heard a street-preacher3 foreign voice4 ,seems really in earnest4 ,he quoted the striking passage1 ',the ,spirit and the bride say1 ,come1 and let him that heareth say1 ,come6' ,from this he seems to derive his authority4 ,let me learn from this man to be in earnest for the truth1 and to despise the scoffing of the world4 ,dec4 #ah4--;,after spending an evening too lightly1 he writes3 ,my heart must break off from all these things4 ,what right have ,i to steal and abuse my ,master's time8 ',redeem it1' ,he is crying to me4 ,dec4 #be4--,my mind not yet calmly fixed on the ,rock of ,ages4 ,jan4 #ab1 #ahcb4--;,cor non pacem habet4 ,quare8 ,peccatum apud fores manet4 ,my heart has not peace4 ,why8 ,sin lieth at my door4 ,jan4 #be4--;,a lovely day4 ,eighty-four cases of cholera at ,musselburgh1 ,how it creeps nearer and nearer like a snake6 ,who will be the first victim here8 ,let thine everlasting arms be around us1 and we shall be safe4 ,jan4 #bi1 ,sabbath4--,afternoon heard ,mr4 ,bruce 7then minister of the ,new ,north ,church1 ,edinburgh7 on ,malachi #a3a-f4 ,it constitutes the very gravamen of the charge against the unrenewed man1 that he has affection for his earthly parent1 and reverence for his earthly master1 but none for ,god6 ,most noble discourse4 ,feb4 #b4--,not a trait worth remembering6 ,and yet these four-and-twenty hours must be accounted for4 ,feb4 #e1 ,sabbath4--,in the afternoon1 having heard the late ,mr4 ,martin of ,st4 ,george's1#a he writes1 on returning home3 ,o quam humilem1 sed quam diligentissimum2 quam dejectum1 sed quam vigilem1 quam die noctuque precantem1 decet me esse quum tales viros aspicio4 ,juva1 ,pater1 ,fili1 et ,spiritus6 ,oh6 how humble1 yet how diligent1 how lowly1 yet how watchful1 how prayerful night and day it becomes me to be1 when ,i see such men4 ,help1 ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit6 #a ,he says of him on another occasion1 ,june #h1 #ahcd3 ,a man greatly beloved of whom the world was not worthy4 ,an apostolic man4 ,his own calm deep holiness1 resembled in many respects ,mr4 ,martin's daily walk4 ,from this date he seems to have sat1 along with his friend ,mr4 ,somerville1 almost entirely under ,mr4 ,bruce's ministry4 ,he took copious notes of his lectures and sermons1 which still remain among his papers4 ,feb4 #bh4--,sober conversation4 ,fain would ,i turn to the most interesting of all subjects4 ,cowardly backwardness3 ',for whosoever is ashamed of me and my words1' etc4 ,at this time1 hearing1 concerning a friend of the family1 that she had said1 ,that she was determined to keep by the world1 he penned the following lines on her melancholy decision3-- ,she has chosen the world1 ,and its paltry crowd2 ,she has chosen the world1 ,and an endless shroud6 ,she has chosen the world ,with its misnamed pleasures2 ,she has chosen the world1 ,before heaven's own treasures4 ,she hath launched her boat ,on life's giddy sea1 ,and her all is afloat ,for eternity4 ,but ,bethlehem's star ,is not in her view2 ,and her aim is far ,from the harbor true4 ,when the storm descends ,from an angry sky1 ,ah6 where from the winds ,shall the vessel fly8 ,away1 then--oh1 fly ,from the joys of earth6 ,her smile is a lie-- ,there's a sting in her mirth499 ,when stars are concealed1 ,and rudder gone1 ,and heaven is sealed ,to the wandering one ,the whirlpool opes ,for the gallant prize2 ,and1 with all her hopes1 ,to the deep she hies6 ,but who may tell ,of the place of woe1 ,where the wicked dwell1 ,where the worldlings go8 ,for the human heart ,can ne'er conceive ,what joys are the part ,of them who believe2 ,nor can justly think ,of the cup of death1 ,which all must drink ,who despise the faith4 99,come1 leave the dreams ,of this transient night1 ,and bask in the beams ,of an endless light4 99,,transcriber',s ,,note3 ,in the original ,memoirs and ,remains of the ,reverend ,robert ,murray ,mc,cheyne1 the passage in brackets was the first half of the last1 eight-line stanza1 and the following quartet was part of the eight-line stanza beginning ,when the storm descends4 ,march #f4--,wild wind and rain all day long4 ,hebrew class--,psalms4 ,new beauty in the original every time ,i read4 ,dr4 ,welsh--lecture on ,pliny's letter about the ,christians of ,bithynia4 ,professor ,jameson on quartz4 ,dr4 ,chalmers grappling with ,hume's arguments4 ,evening--,notes1 and little else4 ,mind and body dull4 ,this is a specimen of his register of daily study4 ,march #bj4--;,after a few sentences in ,latin1 concluding with ,in meam animam veni1 ,domine ,deus omnipotens1 he writes1 ,leaning on a staff of my own devising1 it betrayed me1 and broke under me4 ,it was not thy staff4 ,resolving to be a god1 ,thou showedst me that ,i was but a man4 ,but my own staff being broken1 why may ,i not lay hold of thine8--,read part of the ,life of ,jonathan ,edwards4 ,how feeble does my spark of ,christianity appear beside such a sun6 ,but even his was a borrowed light1 and the same source is still open to enlighten me4 ,april #h4--;,have found much rest in ,him who bore all our burdens for us4 ,april #bf4--,to-night ,i ventured to break the ice of unchristian silence4 ,why should not selfishness be buried beneath the ,atlantic in matters so sacred8 ,may #f1 ,saturday evening4--,this was the evening previous to the ,communion2 and in prospect of again declaring himself the ,lord's at his table1 he enters into a brief review of his state4 ,he had partaken of the ordinance in ,may of the year before for the first time2 but he was then living at ease1 and saw not the solemn nature of the step he took4 ,he now sits down and reviews the past3-- ,what a mass of corruption have ,i been6 ,how great a portion of my life have ,i spent wholly without ,god in the world1 given up to sense and the perishing things around me6 ,naturally of a feeling and sentimental disposition1 how much of my religion has been1 and to this day is1 tinged with these colors of earth6 ,restrained from open vice by educational views and the fear of man1 how much ungodliness has reigned within me6 ,how often has it broken through all restraints1 and come out in the shape of lust and anger1 mad ambitions1 and unhallowed words6 ,though my vice was always refined1 yet how subtile and how awfully prevalent it was6 ,how complete a test was the ,sabbath--spent in weariness1 as much of it as was given to ,god's service6 ,how ,i polluted it by my hypocrisies1 my self-conceits1 my worldly thoughts1 and worldly friends6 ,how formally and unheedingly the ,bible was read1--how little was read1--so little that even now ,i have not read it all6 ,how unboundedly was the wild impulse of the heart obeyed6 ,how much more was the creature loved than the ,creator6--,o great ,god1 that didst suffer me to live whilst ,i so dishonored ,thee1 ,thou knowest the whole2 and it was thy hand alone that could awaken me from the death in which ,i was1 and was contented to be4 ,gladly would ,i have escaped from the ,shepherd that sought me as ,i strayed2 but ,he took me up in his arms and carried me back2 and yet ,he took me not for anything that was in me4 ,i was no more fit for his service than the ,australian1 and no more worthy to be called and chosen4 ,yet why should ,i doubt8 not that ,god is unwilling1 not that ,he is unable--of both ,i am assured4 ,but perhaps my old sins are too fearful1 and my unbelief too glaring8 ,nay2 ,i come to ,christ1 not although ,i am a sinner1 but just because ,i am a sinner1 even the chief4 ,he then adds1 ,and though sentiment and constitutional enthusiasm may have a great effect on me1 still ,i believe that my soul is in sincerity desirous and earnest about having all its concerns at rest with ,god and ,christ1--that his kingdom occupies the most part of all my thoughts1 and even of my long-polluted affections4 ,not unto me1 not unto me1 be the shadow of praise or of merit ascribed1 but let all glory be given to thy most holy name6 ,as surely as ,thou didst make the mouth with which ,i pray1 so surely dost ,thou prompt every prayer of faith which ,i utter4 ,thou hast made me all that ,i am1 and given me all that ,i have4 ,next day1 after communicating1 he writes3 ,i well remember when ,i was an enemy1 and especially abhorred this ordinance as binding me down2 but if ,i be bound to ,christ in heart1 ,i shall not dread any bands that can draw me close to ,him4 ,evening--,much peace4 ,look back1 my soul1 and view the mind that belonged to thee but twelve months ago4 ,my soul1 thy place is in the dust6 ,may #ai4--,thought with more comfort than usual of being a witness for ,jesus in a foreign land4 ,june #d4--,walking with ,a4 ,somerville by ,craigleith4 ,conversing on missions4 ,if ,i am to go to the heathen to speak of the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 this one thing must be given me1 to be out of the reach of the baneful influence of esteem or contempt4 ,if worldly motives go with me1 ,i shall never convert a soul1 and shall lose my own in the labor4 ,june #bb4--,variety of studies4 ,septuagint translation of ,exodus and ,vulgate4 ,bought ,edwards' works4 ,drawing--,truly there was nothing in me that should have induced ,him to choose me4 ,i was but as the other brands upon whom the fire is already kindled1 which shall burn for evermore6 ,and as soon could the billet leap from the hearth and become a green tree1 as my soul could have sprung to newness of life4 ,june #be4--;,in reference to the office of the holy ministry2 ,how apt are we to lose our hours in the vainest babblings1 as do the world6 ,how can this be with those chosen for the mighty office8 fellow-workers with ,god8 heralds of ,his ,son8 evangelists8 men set apart to the work1 chosen out of the chosen1 as it were the very pick of the flocks1 who are to shine as the stars forever and ever8 ,alas1 alas6 my soul1 where shall thou appear8 ,o ,lord ,god1 ,i am a little child6 ,but ,thou wilt send an angel with a live coal from off the altar1 and touch my unclean lips1 and put a tongue within my dry mouth1 so that ,i shall say with ,isaiah1 ',here am ,i1 send me4' ,then1 after reading a little of ,edwards' works3 ,oh that heart and understanding may grow together1 like brother and sister1 leaning on one another6 ,june #bg4--,life of ,david ,brainerd4 ,most wonderful man6 ,what conflicts1 what depressions1 desertions1 strength1 advancement1 victories1 within thy torn bosom6 ,i cannot express what ,i think when ,i think of thee4 ,to-night1 more set upon missionary enterprise than ever4 ,june #bh4--,oh for ,brainerd's humility and sin-loathing dispositions6 ,june #cj4--,much carelessness1 sin1 and sorrow4 ',oh wretched man than ,i am1 who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death8' ,enter thou1 my soul1 into the rock1 and hide thee in the dust for fear of the ,lord and the glory of his majesty4 ,and then he writes a few verses1 of which the following are some stanzas3-- ,i will arise and seek my ,god1 ,and1 bowed down beneath my load1 ,lay all my sins before ,him2 ,then ,he will wash my soul from sin1 ,and put a new heart me within1 ,and teach me to adore ,him4 ,o ye that fain would find the joy-- ,the only one that wants alloy-- ,which never is deceiving2 ,come to the ,well of ,life with me1 ,and drink1 as it is proffered1 free1 ,the gospel draught receiving4 ,i come to ,christ1 because ,i know ,the very worst are called to go2 ,and when in faith ,i find ,him1 ,i'll walk in ,him1 and lean on ,him1 ,because ,i cannot move a limb ,until ,he say1 ,unbind him4 ,july #c4--,this last bitter root of worldliness that has so often betrayed me has this night so grossly1 that ,i cannot but regard it as ,god's chosen way to make me loathe and forsake it forever4 ,i would vow2 but it is much more like a weakly worm to pray4 ,sit in the dust1 ,o my soul6 ,i believe he was enabled to keep his resolution4 ,once only1 in the end of this year1 was he again led back to gaiety2 but it was the last time4 ,july #g1 ,saturday4--,after finishing my usual studies1 tried to fast a little1 with much prayer and earnest seeking of ,god's face1 remembering what occurred this night last year4 7,alluding to his brother's death47 ,july #bb4--;,had this evening a more complete understanding of that self-emptying and abasement with which it is necessary to come to ,christ1--a denying of self1 trampling it under foot1--a recognizing of the complete righteousness and justice of ,god1 that could do nothing else with us but condemn us utterly1 and thrust us down to lowest hell1--a feeling that1 even in hell1 we should rejoice in his sovereignty1 and say that all was rightly done4 ,aug4 #ae4--,little done1 and as little suffered4 ,awfully important question1 ,am ,i redeeming the time8 ,aug4 #ah4--;,heard of the death of ,james ,somerville#b by fever1 induced by cholera4 ,o ,god1 thy ways and thoughts are not as ours6 ,he had preached his first sermon4 ,i saw him last on ,friday1 #bgth ,july1 at the ,college gate2 shook hands1 and little thought ,i was to see him no more on earth4 #b ,son of the minister of ,drumelzier1--very promising and very amiable4 ,sept4 #b1 ,sabbath evening4--,reading4 ,too much engrossed1 and too little devotional4 ,preparation for a fall4 ,warning4 ,we may be too engrossed with the shell even of heavenly things4 ,sept4 #i4--,oh for true1 unfeigned humility6 ,i know ,i have cause to be humble2 and yet ,i do not know one-half of that cause4 ,i know ,i am proud2 and yet ,i do not know the half of that pride4 ,sept4 #cj4--,somewhat straitened by loose ,sabbath observance4 ,best way is to be explicit and manly4 ,nov4 #a4--,more abundant longings for the work of the ministry4 ,oh that ,christ would but count me faithful1 that a dispensation of the gospel might be committed to me6 ,and then he adds1 ,much peace4 ,peaceful1 because believing4 ,dec4 #b4--;,hitherto he used to spend much of the ,sabbath evening in extending his notes of ,mr4 ,bruce's sermons1 but now1 ,determined to be brief with these1 for the sake of a more practical1 meditative1 resting1 sabbatical evening4 ,dec4 #aa4--,mind quite unfitted for devotion4 ,prayerless prayer4 ,dec4 #ca4--;,god has in this past year introduced me to the preparation of the ministry1--,i bless ,him for that4 ,he has helped me to give up much of my shame to name his name1 and be on his side1 especially before particular friends1--,i bless ,him for that4 ,he has taken conclusively away friends that might have been a snare1--must have been a stumbling-block1--,i bless ,him for that4 ,he has introduced me to one ,christian friend1 and sealed more and more my amity with another1--,i bless ,him for that4 ,jan4 #bg1 #ahcc4--,on this day it had been the custom of his brother ,david to write a ,carmen ,natale on their father's birth-day4 ,robert took up the domestic song this year2 and in doing so1 makes some beautiful and tender allusions4 ,ah6 where is the harp that was strung to thy praise1 ,so oft and so sweetly in happier days8 ,when the tears that we shed were the tears of our joy1 ,and the pleasures of home were unmixed with alloy8 ,the harp is now mute--its last breathings are spoken-- ,and the cord1 though 'twas threefold1 is now1 alas1 broken6 ,yet why should we murmur1 short-sighted and vain1 ,since death to that loved one was undying gain8 ,ah1 fools6 shall we grieve that he left this poor scene1 ,to dwell in the realms that are ever serene8 ,through he sparkled the gem in our circle of love1 ,he is even more prized in the circles above4 ,and though sweetly he sung of his father on earth1 ,when this day would inspire him with tenderest mirth1 ,yet a holier tone to his harp is now given1 ,as he sings to his unborn ,father in heaven4 ,feb4 #c4--,writing to a medical friend of his brother ,william's1 he says1 ,i remember long ago a remark you once made to ,william1 which has somehow or other stuck in my head1 viz4 that medical men ought to make a distinct study of the ,bible1 purely for the sake of administering conviction and consolation to their patients4 ,i think you also said that you had actually begun with that view4 ,such a determination1 though formed in youth1 is one which ,i trust riper years will not make you blush to own4 ,feb4 #aa4--,somewhat overcome4 ,let me see3 there is a creeping defect here4 ,humble purpose-like reading of the word omitted4 ,what plant can be unwatered and not wither8 ,feb4 #af4--,walk to ,corstorphine ,hill4 ,exquisite clear view1--blue water1 and brown fields1 and green firs4 ,many thoughts on the follies of my youth4 ,how many1 ,o ,lord1 may they be8 ,summed up in one--ungodliness6 ,feb4 #ba4--;,am ,i as willing as ever to preach to the lost heathen8 ,march #h4--;,biblical criticism4 ,this must not supersede heart-work4 ,how apt it is6 ,march #ab4--,oh for activity1 activity1 activity6 ,march #bi4--,to-day my second session 7at the ,divinity ,hall7 ends4 ,i am now in the middle of my career4 ,god hold me on with a steady pace6 ,march #ca4--,the bull tosses in the net6 ,how should the ,christian imitate the anxieties of the worldling6 ,april #ag4--;,he heard of the death of one whom many friends had esteemed much and lamented deeply4 ,this led him to touch the strings of his harp again1 in a measure somewhat irregular1 yet sad and sweet4 ,,we ,,all ,,do ,,fade ,,as ,a ,,leaf4 ,,she ,,lived-- ,so dying-like and frail1 ,that every bitter gale ,of winter seemed to blow ,only to lay her low6 ,she lived to show how ,he1 ,who stills the stormy sea1 ,can overrule the winter's power1 ,and keep alive the tiniest flower-- ,can bear the young lamb in his arms ,and shelter it from death's alarms4 ,,she ,,died-- ,when spring1 with brightest flowers1 ,was fresh'ning all the bowers4 ,the linnet sung her choicest lay1 ,when her sweet voice was hush'd for aye ,the snowdrop rose above the ground ,when she beneath her pillow found1 ,both cold1 and white1 and fair1-- ,she1 fairest of the fair1 ,she died to teach us all ,the loveliest must fall4 ,a curse is written on the brow ,of beauty2 and the lover's vow ,cannot retain the flitting breath1 ,nor save from all-devouring death4 ,,she ,,lives-- ,the spirit left the earth2 ,and he who gave her birth ,has called her to his dread abode1 ,to meet her ,saviour and her ,god4 ,she lives1 to tell how blest ,is the everlasting rest ,of those who1 in the ,lamb's blood laved1 ,are chosen1 sanctified1 and saved6 ,how fearful is their doom ,who drop into the tomb ,without a covert from the ire ,of ,him who is consuming fire6 ,,she ,,shall ,,live-- ,the grave shall yield his prize1 ,when1 from the rending skies1 ,christ shall with shouting angels come ,to wake the slumberers of the tomb4 ,and many more shall rise ,before our longing eyes4 ,oh6 may we all together meet1 ,embracing the ,redeemer's feet6 ,may #bj4--;,general ,assembly4 ,the motion regarding ,chapels of ,ease lost by #ajf to #ajc4 ,every shock of the ram is heavier and stronger1 till all shall give way4 ,june #d4--;,evening almost lost4 ,music will not sanctify1 though it make feminine the heart4 ,june #bb4--,omissions make way for commissions4 ,could ,i but take effective warning6 ,a world's wealth would not make up for that saying1 ',if any man sin1 we have an ,advocate with the ,father4' ,but how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein8 ,june #cj4--,self-examination4 ,why is a missionary life so often an object of my thoughts8 ,is it simply for the love ,i bear to souls8 ,then1 why do ,i not show it more where ,i am8 ,souls are as precious here as in ,burmah4 ,does the romance of the business not weigh anything with me8--the interest and esteem ,i would carry with me8--the nice journals and letters ,i should write and receive8 ,why would ,i so much rather go to the ,east than to the ,west ,indies8 ,am ,i wholly deceiving my own heart8 and have ,i not a spark of true missionary zeal8 ,lord1 give me to understand and imitate the spirit of those unearthly words of thy dear ,son3 ',it is enough for the disciple that he be as his ,master1 and the servant as his ,lord4' ',he that loveth father or mother more than me1 is not worthy of me4' ,gloria in excelsis ,deo6 ,aug4 #ac4--;,clear conviction of sin is the only true origin of dependence on another's righteousness1 and therefore 7strange to say67 of the ,christian's peace of mind and cheerfulness4 ,sept4 #h4--,reading ,adams' ,private ,thoughts4 ,oh for his heart-searching humility6 ,ah me6 on what mountains of pride must ,i be wandering1 when all ,i do is tinctured with the very sins this man so deplores2 yet where are my wailings1 where my tears1 over my love of praise8 ,nov4 #ad4--;,composition--a pleasant kind of labor4 ,i fear the love of applause or effect goes a great way4 ,may ,god keep me from preaching myself instead of ,christ crucified4 ,jan4 #ae1 #ahcd4--;,heard of the death of ,j4,s41 off the ,cape of ,good ,hope4 ,o ,god6 how ,thou breakest into families6 ,must not the disease be dangerous1 when a tender-hearted surgeon cuts deep into the flesh8 ,how much more when ,god is the operator1 'who afflicteth not from his heart ,hebrew3 meilivo1 nor grieveth the children of men6' ,lam4 #c3cc4 ,feb4 #bc1 ,sabbath4--,rose early to seek ,god1 and found ,him whom my soul loveth4 ,who would not rise early to meet such company8 ,the rains are over and gone4 ,they that sow in tears shall reap in joy4 ,feb4 #bd4--;,he writes a letter to one who1 he feared1 was only sentimental1 and not really under a sense of sin4 ,is it possible1 think you1 for a person to be conceited of his miseries8 ,may there not be a deep leaven of pride in telling how desolate and how unfeeling we are8--in brooding over our unearthly pains8--in our being excluded from the unsympathetic world8--in our being the invalids of ,christ's hospital8 ,he had himself been taught by the ,spirit that it is more humbling for us to take what grace offers1 than to bewail our wants and worthlessness4 ,two days after1 he records1 with thankful astonishment1 that for the first time in his life he had been blest to awaken a soul4 ,all who find ,christ for themselves are impelled1 by the holy necessity of constraining love1 to seek the salvation of others4 ,andrew findeth his brother ,peter1 and ,philip findeth his friend ,nathanael4 ,so was it in the case before us4 ,he no sooner knew ,christ's righteousness as his own covering1 than he longed to see others clothed in the same spotless robe4 ,and it is peculiarly interesting to read the feelings of one who was yet to be blest in plucking so many brands from the fire1 when1 for the first time1 he saw the ,lord graciously employing him in this more than angelic work4 ,we have his own testimony4 ,feb4 #bf4--;,after sermon4 ,the precious tidings that a soul has been melted down by the grace of the ,saviour4 ,how blessed an answer to prayer1 if it be really so6 ',can these dry bones live8 ,lord1 ,thou knowest4' ,what a blessed thing it is to see the first grievings of the awakened spirit1 when it cries1 ',i cannot see myself a sinner2 ,i cannot pray1 for my vile heart wanders6' ,it has refreshed me more than a thousand sermons4 ,i know not how to thank and admire ,god sufficiently for this incipient work4 ,lord1 perfect that which ,thou hast begun6 ,a few days after3 ,lord1 ,i thank ,thee that ,thou hast shown me this marvellous working1 though ,i was but an adoring spectator rather than an instrument4 ,it is scarcely less interesting1 in the case of one so gifted for the work of visiting the careless1 and so singularly skilled in ministering the word by the bedside of the dying1 to find a record of the occasion when the ,lord led him forth to take his first survey of this field of labor4 ,there existed at that time1 among some of the students attending the ,divinity ,hall1 a society1 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 town4 ,our rule was1 not to subtract anything from our times of study1 but to devote to this work an occasional hour in the intervals between different classes1 or an hour that might otherwise have been given to recreation4 ,all of us felt the work to be trying to the flesh at the outset2 but none ever repented of persevering in it4 ,one ,saturday forenoon1 at the close of the usual prayer-meeting1 which met in ,dr4 ,chalmers' vestry1 we went up together to a district in the ,castle ,hill4 ,it was ,robert's first near view of the heathenism of his native city1 and the effect was enduring4 ,march #c4--;,accompanied ,a4,b4 in one of his rounds through some of the most miserable habitations ,i ever beheld4 ,such scenes ,i never before dreamed of4 ,ah6 why am ,i such a stranger to the poor of my native town8 ,i have passed their doors thousands of times2 ,i have admired the huge black piles of building1 with their lofty chimneys breaking the sun's rays1--why have ,i never ventured within8 ,how dwelleth the love of ,god in me8 ,how cordial is the welcome even of the poorest and most loathsome to the voice of ,christian sympathy6 ,what imbedded masses of human beings are huddled together1 unvisited by friend or minister6 ',no man careth for our souls' is written over every forehead4 ,awake1 my soul6 ,why should ,i give hours and days any longer to the vain world1 when there is such a world of misery at my very door8 ,lord1 put thine own strength in me2 confirm every good resolution2 forgive my past long life of uselessness and folly4 ,he forthwith became one of the society's most steady members1 cultivating a district in the ,canongate1 teaching a ,sabbath school1 and distributing the ,monthly ,visitor1 along with ,mr4 ,somerville4 ,his experience there was fitted to give him insight into the sinner's depravity in all its forms4 ,his first visit in his district is thus noticed3 ,march #bd4--,visited two families with tolerable success4 ,god grant a blessing may go with us6 ,began in fear and weakness1 and in much trembling4 ,may the power be of ,god4 ,soon after1 he narrates the following scene3--,entered the house of ----4 ,heard her swearing as ,i came up the stair4 ,found her storming at three little grandchildren1 whom her daughter had left with her4 ,she is a seared1 hard-hearted wretch4 ,read ,ezekiel #cc4 ,interrupted by the entrance of her second daughter1 furiously demanding her marriage lines4 ,became more discreet4 ,promised to come back--never came4 ,her father-in-law entered1 a hideous spectacle of an aged drunkard1 demanding money4 ,left the house with warnings4 ,another case he particularly mentions of a sick woman1 who1 though careless before1 suddenly seemed to float into a sea of joy1 without being able to give any scriptural account of the change4 ,she continued1 ,i believe1 to her death in this state2 but he feared it was a subtile delusion of ,satan as an angel of light4 ,one soul1 however1 was1 to all appearance1 brought truly to the ,rock of ,ages during his and his friend's prayerful visitations4 ,these were first-fruits4 ,he continues his diary1 though often considerable intervals occur in the register of his spiritual state4 ,may #i4--;,how kindly has ,god thwarted me in every instance where ,i sought to en lave myself6 ,i will learn at least to glory in disappointments4 ,may #aj4--;,at the ,communion4 ,felt less use for the minister than ever4 ,let the ,master of the feast alone speak to my heart4 ,he felt at such times1 as many of the ,lord's people have always done1 that it is not the addresses of the ministers in serving the table1 but the ,supper itself1 that ought to satiate their souls with fatness4 ,may #ba4--;,it is affecting to us to read the following entry3--,this day ,i attained my twenty-first year4 ,oh6 how long and how worthlessly ,i have lived1 ,thou only knowest4 ,neff died in his thirty-first year2 when shall ,i8#c #c ,it is worthy of notice how often the ,lord has done much work by a few years of holy labor4 ,in our ,church1 ,g4 ,gillespie and ,j4 ,durham died at thirty-six2 ,hugh ,binning at twenty-six2 ,andrew ,gray when scarcely at twenty-two4 ,of our witnesses1 ,patrick ,hamilton was cut off at twenty-four1 and ,hugh ,m',kail at twenty-six4 ,in other churches we might mention many1 such as ,john ,janeway at twenty-three1 ,david ,brainerd at thirty1 and ,henry ,martyn at thirty-two4 ,theirs was a short life1 filled up with usefulness1 and crowned with glory4 ,oh to be as they6 ,may #bi4--;,he this day wrote very faithfully1 yet very kindly1 to one who seemed to him not a believer1 and who nevertheless appropriated to herself the promises of ,god4 ,if you are wholly unassured of your being a believer1 is it not a contradiction in terms to say1 that you are sure the believers' promises belong to you8 ,are you an assured believer8 ,if so1 rejoice in your heirship2 and yet rejoice with trembling2 for that is the very character of ,god's heirs4 ,but are you unassured--nay1 wholly unassured8 then what mad presumption to say to your soul1 that these promises1 being in the ,bible1 must belong indiscriminately to all6 ,it is too gross a contradiction for you to compass1 except in word4 ,he then shows that ,christ's free offer must be accepted by the sinner1 and so the promises become his4 ,this sinner complies with the call or offer1 ',come unto me2' and thereafter1 but not before1 can claim the annexed promise as his3 ',i will give thee rest4' ,aug4 #ad4--,partial fast1 and seeking ,god's face by prayer4 ,this day thirty years1 my late dear brother was born4 ,oh for more love1 and then will come more peace6 ,that same evening he wrote the hymn1 ,the ,barren ,fig-tree4 ,oct4 #ag4--,private meditation exchanged for conversation4 ,here is the root of the evil1--forsake ,god1 and ,he forsakes us4 ,some evening this month he had been reading ,baxter's ,call to the ,unconverted4 ,deeply impressed with the affectionate and awfully solemn urgency of the man of ,god1 he wrote-- ,though ,baxter's lips have long in silence hung1 ,and death long hush'd that sinner-wakening tongue1 ,yet still1 though dead1 he speaks aloud to all1 ,and from the grave still issues forth his ,call3 ,like some loud angel-voice from ,zion hill1 ,the mighty echo rolls and rumbles still4 ,oh grant that we1 when sleeping in the dust1 ,may thus speak forth the wisdom of the just6 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was peculiarly subject to attacks of fever1 and by one of these was he laid down on a sick-bed on ,november #aeth4 ,however1 this attack was of short duration4 ,on the #bast he writes3 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and forget not all his benefits4 ,learned more and more of the value of ,jehovah ,tzidkenu4 ,he had1 three days before1 written his well-known hymn1 ,i once was a stranger1 etc41 entitled ,jehovah ,tzidkenu1 the ,watchword of the ,reformers4 ,it was the fruit of a slight illness which had tried his soul1 by setting it more immediately in view of the judgment-seat of ,christ2 and the hymn which he so sweetly sung reveals the sure and solid confidence of his soul4 ,in reference to that same illness1 he seems to have penned the following lines4 ,november #bdth3-- ,he tenderly binds up the broken in heart1 ,the soul bowed down ,he will raise3 ,for mourning1 the ointment of joy will impart3 ,for heaviness1 garments of praise4 ,ah1 come1 then1 and sing to the praise of our ,god1 ,who giveth and taketh away2 ,who first by his kindness1 and then by his rod1 ,would teach us1 poor sinners1 to pray4 ,for in the assembly of ,jesus' first-born1 ,who anthems of gratitude raise1 ,each heart has by great tribulation been torn1 ,each voice turned from wailing to praise4 ,nov4 #i4--;,heard of ,edward ,irving's death4 ,i look back upon him with awe1 as on the saints and martyrs of old4 ,a holy man in spite of all his delusions and errors4 ,he is now with his ,god and ,saviour1 whom he wronged so much1 yet1 ,i am persuaded1 loved so sincerely4 ,how should we lean for wisdom1 not on ourselves1 but on the ,god of all grace6 ,nov4 #ba4--;,if nothing else will do to sever me from my sins1 ,lord send me such sore and trying calamities as shall awake me from earthly slumbers4 ,it must always be best to be alive to ,thee1 whatever be the quickening instrument4 ,i tremble as ,i write1 for oh6 on every hand do ,i see too likely occasions for sore afflictions4 ,feb4 #ae1 #ahce4--,to-morrow ,i undergo my trials before the ,presbytery4 ,may ,god give me courage in the hour of need4 ,what should ,i fear8 ,if ,god see meet to put me into the ministry1 who shall keep me back8 ,if ,i be not meet1 why should ,i be thrust forward8 ,to thy service ,i desire to dedicate myself over and over again4 ,march #a4--;,bodily service4 ,what change is there in the heart6 ,wild1 earthly affections there are here2 strong1 coarse passions2 bands both of iron and silk4 ,but ,i thank ,thee1 ,o my ,god1 that they make me cry1 ',oh wretched man6' ,bodily weakness1 too1 depresses me4 ,march #bi4--;,college finished on ,friday last4 ,my last appearance there4 ,life itself is vanishing fast4 ,make haste for eternity4 ,in such records as these1 we read ,god's dealings with his soul up to the time when he was licensed to preach the gospel4 ,his preparatory discipline1 both of heart and of intellect1 had been directed by the ,great ,head of the ,church in a way that remarkably qualified him for the work he was to perform in the vineyard4 ,his soul was prepared for the awful work of the ministry by much prayer1 and much study of the word of ,god2 by affliction in his person2 by inward trials and sore temptations2 by experience of the depth of corruption in his own heart1 and by discoveries of the ,saviour's fulness of grace4 ,he learned experimentally to ask1 ,who is he that overcometh the world1 but he that believeth that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god6 ,i ,john #e3e4 ,during the four years that followed his awakening1 he was oftentimes under the many waters1 but was ever raised again by the same divine hand that had drawn him out at the first2 till at length1 though still often violently tossed1 the vessel was able steadily to keep the summit of the wave4 ,it appears that he learned the way of salvation experimentally1 ere he knew it accurately by theory and system2 and thus no doubt it was that his whole ministry was little else than a giving out of his own inward life4 ,the ,visiting ,society noticed above was much blessed to the culture of his soul1 and not less so the ,missionary ,association and the ,prayer ,meeting connected with it4 ,none were more regular at the hour of prayer than he1 and none more frequently led up our praises to the throne4 ,he was for some time ,secretary to the ,association1 and interested himself deeply in details of missionary labors4 ,indeed1 to the last day of his life1 his thoughts often turned to foreign lands2 and one of the last notes he wrote was to the ,secretary of the ,association in ,edinburgh1 expressing his unabated interest in their prosperity4 ,during the first years of his college course1 his studies did not absorb his whole attention2 but no sooner was the change on his soul begun1 than his studies shared in the results4 ,a deeper sense of responsibility led him to occupy his talents for the service of ,him who bestowed them4 ,there have been few who1 along with a devotedness of spirit that sought to be ever directly engaged in the ,lord's work1 have nevertheless retained such continued and undecaying esteem for the advantages of study4 ,while attending the usual literary and philosophical classes1 he found time to turn his attention to ,geology and ,natural ,history4 ,and often in his days of most successful preaching1 when1 next to his own soul1 his parish and his flock were his only care1 he has been known to express a regret that he had not laid up in former days more stores of all useful knowledge2 for he found himself able to use the jewels of the ,egyptians in the service of ,christ4 ,his previous studies would sometimes flash into his mind some happy illustration of divine truth1 at the very moment when he was most solemnly applying the glorious gospel to the most ignorant and vile4 ,his own words will best show his estimate of study1 and at the same time the prayerful manner in which he felt it should be carried on4 ,do get on with your studies1 he wrote to a young student in #ahdj4 ,remember you are now forming the character of your future ministry in great measure1 if ,god spare you4 ,if you acquire slovenly or sleepy habits of study now1 you will never get the better of it4 ,do everything in its own time4 ,do everything in earnest2 if it is worth doing1 then do it with all your might4 ,above all1 keep much in the presence of ,god4 ,never see the face of man till you have seen his face who is our life1 our all4 ,pray for others2 pray for your teachers1 fellow-students1 etc4 ,to another he wrote3 ,beware of the atmosphere of the classics4 ,it is pernicious indeed2 and you need much of the south wind breathing over the ,scriptures to counteract it4 ,true1 we ought to know them2 but only as chemists handle poisons--to discover their qualities1 not to infect their blood with them4 ,and again3 ,pray that the ,holy ,spirit would not only make you a believing and holy lad1 but make you wise in your studies also4 ,a ray of divine light in the soul sometimes clears up a mathematical problem wonderfully4 ,the smile of ,god calms the spirit1 and the left hand of ,jesus holds up the fainting head1 and his ,holy ,spirit quickens the affection1 so that even natural studies go on a million times more easily and comfortably4 ,before entering the ,divinity ,hall1 he had attended a private class for the study of ,hebrew2 and having afterwards attended the two sessions of ,dr4 ,brunton's college class1 he made much progress in that language4 ,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 ,new4 ,it was about the time of his first year's attendance at the ,hall that ,i began to know him as an intimate friend4 ,during the summer vacations1--that we might redeem the time1--some of us who remained in town1 when most of our fellow-students were gone to the country1 used to meet once every week in the forenoon1 for the purpose of investigating some point of ,systematic ,divinity1 and stating to each other the amount and result of our private reading4 ,at another time we met in a similar way1 till we had overtaken the chief points of the ,popish controversy4 ,advancement in our acquaintance with the ,greek and ,hebrew ,scriptures also brought us together2 and one summer the study of ,unfulfilled ,prophecy assembled a few of us once a week1 at an early morning hour1 when1 though our views differed much on particular points1 we never failed to get food to our souls in the ,scriptures we explored4 ,but no society of this kind was more useful and pleasant to us than one which1 from its object1 received the name of ,exegetical4 ,it met during the session of the ,theological classes every ,saturday morning at half-past six4 ,the study of ,biblical criticism1 and whatever might cast light on the word of ,god1 was our aim2 and these meetings were kept up regularly during four sessions4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne spoke of himself as indebted to this society for much of that discipline of mind on ,jewish literature and ,scripture geography which was found to be so useful in the ,mission of ,inquiry to the ,jews in after days4#d #d ,the members of this ,society were--,rev4 ,william ,laughton1 now ,minister of ,st ,thomas's1 ,greenock1 in connection with the ,free ,church2 ,thomas ,brown1 ,free ,church1 ,kinneff2 ,william ,wilson1 ,free ,church1 ,carmyllie2 ,horatius ,bonar1 ,free ,church1 ,kelso2 ,andrew ,a4 ,bonar1 ,free ,church1 ,collace2 ,robert ,m4 ,m',cheyne2 ,alexander ,somerville1 ,free ,church1 ,anderston1 ,glasgow2 ,john ,thomson1 ,mariners' ,free ,church1 ,leith2 ,robert ,k4 ,hamilton1 ,madras2 ,john ,burne1 for some time at ,madeira2 ,patrick ,borrowman1 ,free ,church1 ,glencairn2 ,walter ,wood1 ,free ,church1 ,westruther2 ,henry ,moncrieff1 ,free ,church1 ,kilbride2 ,james ,cochrane1 ,established ,church1 ,cupar2 ,john ,miller1 ,secretary to ,free ,church ,special ,commission2 ,g4 ,smeaton1 ,free ,church1 ,auchterarder2 ,robert ,kinnear1 ,free ,church1 ,moffat2 and ,w4,b4 ,clarke1 ,free ,church1 ,half-,morton4 ,every meeting was opened and closed with prayer4 ,minutes of the discussions were kept2 and the essays read were preserved in volumes4 ,a very characteristic essay of ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's is ,lebanon and its ,scenery 7inserted in the ,remains71 wherein he adduces the evidence of travellers for facts and customs which he himself was afterwards to see4 ,often1 in #ahci1 pleasant remembrances of these days of youthful study were suggested by what we actually witnessed2 and in the essay referred to ,i find an interesting coincidence4 ,he writes3 ,what a refreshing sight to his eye1 yet undimmed with age1 after resting forty years on the monotonous scenery of the desert1 now to rest on ,zion's olive-clad hills1 and ,lebanon1 with its vine-clad base and overhanging forests1 and towering peaks of snow6 ,this was the very impression on our minds when we ourselves came up from the wilderness as expressed in the ,narrative1 chap4 #b--,may #bi4 ,next morning we saw at a distance a range of hills1 running north and south1 called by the ,arabs ,djebel ,khalie4 ,after wandering so many days in the wilderness1 with its vast monotonous plains of level sand1 the sight of these distant mountains was a pleasant relief to the eye2 and we thought we could understand a little of the feeling with which ,moses1 after being forty years in the desert1 would pray1 ',i pray ,thee let me go over1' ,deut4 #c3be4 ,but these helps in study were all the while no more than supplementary4 ,the regular systematic studies of the ,hall furnished the main provision for his mental culture4 ,under ,dr4 ,chalmers for ,divinity1 and under ,dr4 ,welsh for ,church ,history1 a course of four years afforded no ordinary advantages for enlarging the understanding4 ,new fields of thought were daily opened up4 ,his notes and his diary testify that he endeavored to retain what he heard1 and that he used to read as much of the books recommended by the professors as his time enabled him to overtake4 ,many years after1 he thankfully called to mind lessons that had been taught in these classes4 ,riding one day with ,mr4 ,hamilton 7now of ,regent ,square1 ,london7 from ,abernyte to ,dundee1 they were led to speak of the best mode of dividing a sermon4 ,i used1 said he1 to despise ,dr4 ,welsh's rules at the time ,i heard him2 but now ,i feel ,i must use them1 for nothing is more needful for making a sermon memorable and impressive than a logical arrangement4 ,his intellectual powers were of a high order3 clear and distinct apprehension of his subject1 and felicitous illustration1 characterized him among all his companions4 ,to an eager desire for wide acquaintance with truth in all its departments1 and a memory strong and accurate in retaining what he found1 there was added a remarkable candor in examining what claimed to be the truth4 ,he had also an ingenious and enterprising mind--a mind that could carry out what was suggested1 when it did not strike out new light for itself4 ,he possessed great powers of analysis2 often his judgment discovered singular discrimination4 ,his imagination seldom sought out object of grandeur2 for1 as a friend has truly said of him1 he had a kind and quiet eye1 which found out the living and beautiful in nature1 rather than the majestic and sublime4 ,he might have risen to high eminence in the circles of taste and literature1 but denied himself all such hopes1 that he might win souls4 ,with such peculiar talents as he possessed1 his ministry might have1 in any circumstances1 attracted many2 but these attractions were all made subsidiary to the single desire of awakening the dead in trespasses and sins4 ,nor would he have expected to be blessed to the salvation of souls unless he had himself been a monument of sovereign grace4 ,in his esteem1 to be in ,christ before being in the ministry was a thing indispensable4 ,he often pointed to those solemn words of ,jeremiah 7#bc3ba73 ,i have not sent these prophets1 yet they ran2 ,i have not spoken to them1 yet they prophesied4 ,but if they had stood in my counsel1 and caused my people to hear my words1 then they should have turned them from their evil way1 and from the evil of their doings4 ,it was with faith already in his heart that he went forward to the holy office of the ministry1 receiving from his ,lord the rod by which he was to do signs1 and which1 when it had opened rocks and made waters gush out1 he never failed to replace upon the ark whence it was taken1 giving glory to ,god6 ,he knew not the way by which ,god was leading him2 but even then he was under the guidance of the pillar-cloud4 ,at this very period he wrote that hymn1 ,they sing the song of ,moses4 ,his course was then about to begin2 but now that it has ended1 we can look back and plainly see that the faith he therein expressed was not in vain4 ,,chapter ,,ii ,,his ,,labors ,,in ,,the ,,vineyard ,,before ,,ordination4 ,he that goeth forth and weepeth1 bearing precious seed1 shall doubtless come again with rejoicing1 bringing his sheaves with him4--,ps4 #abf3f4 ,while he was still only undergoing a student's usual examinations before the ,presbytery1 in the spring and summer of #ahce1 several applications were made to him by ministers in the ,church1 who desired to secure his services for their part of the vineyard4 ,he was especially urged to consider the field of labor at ,larbert and ,dunipace1 near ,stirling1 under ,mr4 ,john ,bonar1 the pastor of these united parishes4 ,this circumstance led him 7as is often done in such cases7 to ask the ,presbytery of ,edinburgh1 under whose superintendence he had hitherto carried on his studies1 to transfer the remainder of his public trials to another ,presbytery1 where there would be less press of business to occasion delay4 ,this request being readily granted1 his connection with ,dumfriesshire led him to the ,presbytery of ,annan1 who licensed him to preach the gospel on #ast ,july #ahce4 ,his feelings at the moment appear from a record of his own in the evening of the day3 ,preached three probationary discourses in ,annan ,church1 and1 after an examination in ,hebrew1 was solemnly licensed to preach the gospel by ,mr4 ,monylaws1 the moderator4 ',bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul2 and all that is within me1 be stirred up to praise and magnify his holy name6' ,what ,i have so long desired as the highest honor of man1 ,thou at length givest me--me who dare scarcely use the words of ,paul3 ',unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given1 that ,i should preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ4' ,felt somewhat solemnized1 though unable to feel my unworthiness as ,i ought4 ,be clothed with humility4 ,an event occurred the week before which cast a solemnizing influence on him1 and on his after fellow-traveller and brother in the gospel1 who was licensed by another ,presbytery that same day4 ,this event was the lamented death of the ,rev4 ,john ,brown ,patterson of ,falkirk--one whom the ,lord had gifted with preeminent eloquence and learning1 and who was using all for his ,lord1 when cut off by fever4 ,he had spoken much before his death of the awfulness of a pastor's charge1 and his early death sent home the lesson to many1 with the warning that the pastor's account of souls might be suddenly required of him4 ,on the following ,sabbath1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne preached for the first time in ,ruthwell ,church1 near ,dumfries1 on the ,pool of ,bethesda2 and in the afternoon on the ,strait ,gate4 ,he writes that evening in his diary3 ,found it a more awfully solemn thing than ,i had imagined to announce ,christ authoritatively2 yet a glorious privilege6 ,the week after 7,saturday1 ,july #aa73 ,lord1 put me into thy service when and where ,thou pleasest4 ,in thy hand all my qualities will be put to their appropriate end4 ,let me1 then1 have no anxieties4 ,next day1 also1 after preaching in ,st4 ,john's ,church1 ,leith3 ,remembered1 before going into the pulpit1 the confession which says1#e ',we have been more anxious about the messenger than the message4' ,in preaching that day1 he states1 ,it came across me in the pulpit1 that if spared to be a minster1 ,i might enjoy sweet flashes of communion with ,god in that situation4 ,the mind is entirely wrought up to speak for ,god4 ,it is possible1 then1 that more vivid acts of faith may be gone through then1 than in quieter and sleepier moments4 #e ,he here refers to the ,full and ,candid ,acknowledgment of ,sin1 for ,students and ,ministers1 drawn up by the ,commission of ,assembly in #afea1 and often reprinted since4 ,it was not till the #gth of ,november that he began his labors at ,larbert4 ,in the interval he preached in various places1 and many began to perceive the peculiar sweetness of the word in his lips4 ,in accepting the invitation to labor in the sphere proposed1 he wrote3 ,it has always been my aim1 and it is my prayer1 to have no plans with regard to myself1 well assured as ,i am1 that the place where the ,saviour sees meet to place me must ever be the best place for me4 ,the parish to which he had come was very large1 containing six thousand souls4 ,the parish church is at ,larbert2 but through the exertions of ,mr4 ,bonar1 many years ago1 a second church was erected for the people of ,dunipace4 ,mr4 ,hanna1 afterwards minister of ,skirling1 had preceded ,m',cheyne in the duties of assistant in his field of labor2 and ,mr4 ,m',cheyne now entered on it with a fully devoted and zealous heart1 although in a weak state of health4 ,as assistant1 it was his part to preach every alternate ,sabbath at ,larbert and ,dunipace1 and during the week to visit among the population of both these districts1 according as he felt himself enabled in body and soul4 ,there was a marked difference between the two districts in their general features of character2 but equal labor was bestowed on both by the minister and his assistant2 and often did their prayer ascend that the windows of heaven might be opened over the two sanctuaries4 ,souls have been saved there4 ,often1 however1 did the faithful pastor mingle his tears with those of his younger fellow-soldier1 complaining1 ,lord1 who hath believed our report8 ,there was much sowing in faith2 nor was this sowing abandoned even when the returns seemed most inadequate4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne had great delight in remembering that ,larbert was one of the places where1 in other days1 that holy man of ,god1 ,robert ,bruce1 had labored and prayed4 ,writing at an after period from the ,holy ,land1 he expressed the wish1 ,may the ,spirit be poured upon ,larbert as in ,bruce's days4 ,but more than all associations1 the souls of the people1 whose salvation he longed for1 were ever present to his mind4 ,a letter to ,mr4 ,bonar1 in #ahcg1 from ,dundee1 shows us his yearnings over them4 ,what an interest ,i feel in ,larbert and ,dunipace6 ,it is like the land of my birth4 ,will the ,sun of ,righteousness ever rise upon it1 making its hills and valleys bright with the light of the knowledge of ,jesus8 ,no sooner was he settled in his chamber here1 than he commenced his work4 ,with him1 the commencement of all labor invariably consisted in the preparation of his own soul4 ,the forerunner of each day's visitations was a calm season of private devotion during morning hours4 ,the walls of his chamber were witnesses of his prayerfulness1--,i believe of his tears as well as of his cries4 ,the pleasant sound of psalms often issued from his room at an early hour4 ,then followed the reading of the word for his own sanctification2 and few have so fully realized the blessing of the first ,psalm4 ,his leaf did not wither1 for his roots were in the waters4 ,it was here1 too1 that he began to study so closely the works of ,jonathan ,edwards1--reckoning them a mine to be wrought1 and if wrought1 sure to repay the toil4 ,along with this author1 the ,letters of ,samuel ,rutherford were often in his hand4 ,books of general knowledge he occasionally perused2 but now it was done with the steady purpose of finding in them some illustration of spiritual truth4 ,he rose from reading ,insect ,architecture1 with the observation1 ,god reigns in a community of ants and ichneumons1 as visibly as among living men or mighty seraphim6 ,his desire to grow in acquaintance with ,scripture was very intense2 and both ,old and ,new ,testament were his regular study4 ,he loved to range over the wide revelation of ,god4 ,he would be a sorry student of this world1 said he to a friend1 who should forever confine his gaze to the fruitful fields and well-watered gardens of this cultivated earth4 ,he could have no true idea of what the world was1 unless he had stood upon the rocks of our mountains1 and seen the bleak muirs and mosses of our barren land2 unless he had paced the quarter-deck when the vessel was out of sight of land1 and seen the waste of waters without any shore upon the horizon4 ,just so1 he would be a sorry student of the ,bible who would not know all that ,god has inspired2 who would not examine into the most barren chapters to collect the good for which they were intended2 who would not strive to understand all the bloody battles which are chronicled1 that he might find 'bread out of the eater1 and honey out of the lion4'--7,june #ahcf47 ,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 believers4 ,i have found1 by some experience1 that in the country here my watch does not go so well as it used to do in town4 ,by small and gradual changes ,i find it either gains or loses1 and ,i am surprised to find myself different in time from all the world1 and1 what is worse1 from the sun4 ,the simple explanation is1 that in town ,i met with a steeple in every street1 and a good-going clock upon it2 and so any aberrations in my watch were soon noticed and easily corrected4 ,and just so ,i sometimes think it may be with that inner watch1 whose hands point not to time but to eternity4 ,by gradual and slow changes the wheels of my soul lag behind1 or the springs of passions become too powerful2 and ,i have no living timepiece with which ,i may compare1 and by which ,i may amend my going4 ,you will say that ,i may always have the sun3 ,and so it should be2 but we have many clouds which obscure the sun from our weak eyes4--7,letter to ,rev4 ,h4 ,bonar1 ,kelso47 ,from the first he fed others by what he himself was feeding upon4 ,his preaching was in a manner the development of his soul's experience4 ,it was a giving out of the inward life4 ,he loved to come up from the pastures wherein the ,chief ,shepherd had met him--to lead the flock entrusted to his care to the spots where he found nourishment4 ,in the field of his labor he found enough of work to overwhelm his spirit4 ,the several collieries and the ,carron ,ironworks furnish a population who are1 for the most part1 either sunk in deep indifference to the truth1 or are opposed to it in the spirit of infidelity4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne at once saw that the pastor whom he had come to aid1 whatever was the measure of his health1 and zeal1 and perseverance1 had duties laid on him which were altogether beyond the power of man to overtake4 ,when he made a few weeks' trial1 the field appeared more boundless1 and the mass of souls more impenetrable1 than he had ever conceived4 ,it was probably1 in some degree1 his experience at this time that gave him such deep sympathy with the ,church ,extension ,scheme1 as a truly noble and ,christian effort for bringing the glad tidings to the doors of a population who must otherwise remain neglected1 and were themselves willing so to live and die4 ,he conveyed his impressions on this subject to a friend abroad1 in the following terms3 ,there is a soul-destroying cruelty in the cold-hearted opposition which is made to the multiplication of ministers in such neglected and overgrown districts as these4 ,if one of our ,royal ,commissioners would but consent to undergo the bodily fatigue that a minister ought to undergo in visiting merely the sick and dying of ,larbert 7let alone the visitation of the whole1 and preparation for the pulpit71 and that for one month1 ,i would engage that if he be able to rise out of his bed by the end of it1 he would change his voice and manner at the ,commission ,board4 ,a few busy weeks passed over1 occupied from morning to night in such cares and toils1 when another part of the discipline he was to undergo was sent4 ,in the end of ,december1 strong oppression of the heart and an irritating cough caused some of his friends to fear that his lungs were affected2 and for some weeks he was laid aside from public duty4 ,on examination1 it was found that though there was a dulness in the right lung1 yet the material of the lungs was not affected4 ,for a time1 however1 the air-vessels were so clogged and irritated1 that if he had continued to preach1 disease would have quickly ensued4 ,but this also was soon removed1 and1 under cautious management1 he resumed his work4 ,this temporary illness served to call forth this extreme sensitiveness of his soul to the responsibilities of his office4 ,at its commencement--having gone to ,edinburgh in so sweet a sunshine morning that ,god seemed to have chosen it for him--he wrote to ,mr4 ,bonar3 ,if ,i am not recovered before the third ,sabbath1 ,i fear ,i shall not be able to bear upon my conscience the responsibility of leaving you any longer to labor alone1 bearing unaided the burden of #f1jjj souls4 ,no1 my dear sir1 ,i must read the will of ,god aright in his providence1 and give way1 when ,he bids me1 to fresh and abler workmen4 ,i hope and pray that it may be his will to restore me again to you and your parish1 with a heart tutored by sickness1 to speak more and more as dying to dying4 ,then1 mentioning two of the sick3 ,poor ,a4,d4 and ,c4,h41 ,i often think of them4 ,i can do no more for their good1 except pray for them4 ,tell them that ,i do this without ceasing4 ,the days when a holy pastor1 who knows the blood-sprinkled way to the ,father1 is laid aside1 are probably as much a proof of the kindness of ,god to his flock as days of health and activity4 ,he is occupied1 during this season of retirement1 in discovering the plagues of his heart1 and in going in1 like ,moses1 to plead with ,god face to face for his flock1 and for his own soul4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne believed that ,god had this end in view with him2 and that the ,lord should thus deal with him at his entrance into the vineyard made him ponder these dealings the more4 ,paul asked1 says he1 ',what wilt ,thou have me to do8' and it was answered1 ',i will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake4' ,thus it may be with me4 ,i have been too anxious to do great things4 ,the lust of praise has ever been my besetting sin2 and what more befitting school could be found for me than that of suffering alone1 away from the eye and ear of man8 ,writing again to ,mr4 ,bonar1 he tells him3 ,i feel distinctly that the whole of my labor during this season of sickness and pain should be in the way of prayer and intercession4 ,and yet1 so strongly does ,satan work in our deceitful hearts1 ,i scarcely remember a season wherein ,i have been more averse to these duties4 ,i try to build myself up in my most holy faith1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost1 keeping myself in the love of ,god1 and looking for the mercy of the ,lord ,jesus unto eternal life4' ,that text of ,jude has peculiar beauties for me at this season4 ,if it be good to come under the love of ,god once1 surely it is good to keep ourselves there4 ,and yet how reluctant we are6 ,i cannot doubt that boldness is offered me to enter into the holiest of all2 ,i cannot doubt my right and title to enter continually by the new and bloody way2 ,i cannot doubt that when ,i do enter in1 ,i stand not only forgiven1 but accepted in the ,beloved2 ,i cannot doubt that when ,i do enter in1 the ,spirit is willing and ready to descend like a dove1 to dwell in my bosom as a ,spirit of prayer and peace1 enabling me to 'pray in the ,holy ,ghost2' and that ,jesus is ready to rise up as my intercessor with the ,father1 praying for me though not for the world2 and that the prayer-hearing ,god is ready to bend his ear to requests which ,he delights to hear and answer4 ,i cannot doubt that thus to dwell in ,god is the true blessedness of my nature2 and yet1 strange unaccountable creature6 ,i am too often unwilling to enter in4 ,i go about and about the sanctuary1 and ,i sometimes press in through the rent veil1 and see the blessedness of dwelling there to be far better than that of the tents of wickedness2 yet it is certain that ,i do not dwell within4--,my prayers follow you1 especially to the sick-beds of ,a4,d4 and ,c4,h4 ,i hope they still survive1 and that ,christ may yet be glorified in them4 ,on resuming his labors1 he found a residence in ,carronvale4 ,from this pleasant spot he used to ride out to his work4 ,but pleasant as the spot was1 yet being only partially recovered1 he was not satisfied2 he lamented that he was unable to overtake what a stronger laborer would have accomplished4 ,he often cast a regretful look at the collieries2 and remembering them still at a later period1 he reproached himself with neglect1 though most unjustly4 ,the places which ,i left utterly unbroken in upon are ,kinnaird and ,milton4 ,both of these rise up against my conscience1 particularly the last1 through which ,i have ridden so often4 ,it was not the comfort1 but the positive usefulness of the ministry1 that he envied2 and he judged of places by their fitness to promote this great end4 ,he said of a neighboring parish1 which he had occasion to visit3 ,the manse is altogether too sweet2 other men could hardly live there without saying1 ',this is my rest4' ,i don't think ministers' manses should ever be so beautiful4 ,a simple incident was overruled to promote the ease and fluency of his pulpit ministrations4 ,from the very beginning of his ministry he reprobated the custom of reading sermons1 believing that to do so does exceedingly weaken the freedom and natural fervor of the messenger in delivering his message4 ,neither did he recite what he had written4 ,but his custom was to impress on his memory the substance of what he had beforehand carefully written1 and then to speak as he found liberty4 ,one morning1 as he rode rapidly along to ,dunipace1 his written sermons were dropped on the wayside4 ,this accident prevented him having the opportunity of preparing in his usual manner2 but he was enabled to preach with more than usual freedom4 ,for the first time in his life1 he discovered that he possessed the gift of extemporaneous composition1 and learned1 to his own surprise1 that he had more composedness of mind and command of language than he had believed4 ,this discovery1 however1 did not in the least degree diminish his diligent preparation4 ,indeed1 the only use that he made of the incident at the time it occurred was1 to draw a lesson of dependence on ,god's own immediate blessing rather than on the satisfactory preparation made4 ,one thing always fills the cup of my consolation1 that ,god may work by the meanest and poorest words1 as well as by the most polished and ornate1--yea1 perhaps more readily1 that the glory may be all his own4 ,his hands were again full1 distributing the bread of life in fellowship with ,mr4 ,bonar4 ,the progress of his own soul1 meanwhile1 may be traced in some of the few entries that occur in his diary during this period3-- ,feb4 #ba1 #ahcf1 ,sabbath4--,blessed be the ,lord for another day of the ,son of man4 ,resumed my diary1 long broken off2 not because ,i do not feel the disadvantages of it1--making you assume feelings and express rather what you wish to be than what you are1--but because the advantages seem greater4 ,it ensures sober reflection on the events of the day as seen in ,god's eye4 ,preached twice in ,larbert1 on the righteousness of ,god1 ,rom4 #a3af4 ,in the morning was more engaged in preparing the head than the heart4 ,this has been frequently my error1 and ,i have always felt the evil of it1 especially in prayer4 ,reform it1 then1 ,o ,lord4 ,feb4 #bg4--,preached in ,dunipace with more heart than ever ,i remember to have done1 on ,rom4 #e3aj1 owing to the gospel nature of the subject and prayerful preparation4 ,audience smaller than usual6 ,how happy and strange is the feeling when ,god gives the soul composure to stand and plead for ,him6 ,oh that it were altogether for ,him ,i plead1 not for myself6 ,march #e4--,preached in ,larbert with very much comfort1 owing chiefly to my remedying the error of #bast ,feb4 ,therefore the heart and the mouth were full4 ',enlarge my heart1 and ,i shall run1' said ,david4 ',enlarge my heart1 and ,i shall preach4' ,in this last remark we see the germ of his remarkably solemn ministry4 ,his heart was filled1 and his lips then spoke what he felt within his heart4 ,he gave out not merely living water1 but living water drawn at the springs that he had himself drank of2 and is not this a true gospel ministry8 ,some venture to try what they consider a more intellectual method of addressing the conscience2 but ere a minister attempts this mode1 he ought to see that he is one who is able to afford more deep and anxious preparation of heart than other men4 ,since the intellectual part of the discourse is not that which is most likely to be an arrow in the conscience1 those pastors who are intellectual men must bestow tenfold more prayerfulness on their work1 if they would have either their own or their people's souls affected under their word4 ,if we are ever to preach with compassion for the perishing1 we must ourselves be moved by those same views of sin and righteousness which moved the human soul of ,jesus4 7,see ,psalm #ch and #ee47 ,about this time he occasionally contributed papers to the ,christian ,herald3 one of these was ,on sudden ,conversions1 showing that ,scripture led us to expect such4 ,during this month he seems to have written the ,lines on ,mungo ,park1 one of the pieces which attracted the notice of ,professor ,wilson4 ,but whatever he engaged in1 his aim was to honor his ,master4 ,i find him1 after hearing sermon by another1 remarking 7,april #c71 ,some things powerful2 but ,i thirst to hear more of ,christ4 ,on ,sabbath #af1 he writes3 ,preached with some tenderness of heart4 ,oh1 why should ,i not weep1 as ,jesus did over ,jerusalem8 ,evening--,instructing two delightful ,sabbath schools4 ,much bodily weariness4 ,gracious kindness of ,god in giving rest to the weary4 ,april #ac4--,went to ,stirling to hear ,dr4 ,duff once more upon his system4 ,with greater warmth and energy than ever4 ,he kindles as he goes4 ,felt almost constrained to go the whole length of his system with him4 ,if it were only to raise up an audience1 it would be defensible2 but when it is to raise up teachers1 it is more than defensible4 ,i am now made willing1 if ,god shall open the way1 to go to ,india4 ,here am ,i2 send me6 ,the missionary feeling in his soul continued all his life4 ,the ,lord had really made him willing2 and this preparedness to go anywhere completed his preparation for unselfish1 self-denied work at home4 ,must there not be somewhat of this missionary tendency in all true ministers8 ,is any one truly the ,lord's messenger who is not quite willing to go when and where the ,lord calls8 ,is it justifiable in any to put aside a call from the north1 on the ground that he wishes one from the south8 ,we must be found in the position of ,isaiah1 if we are to be really sent of ,god4 ,april #bd4--,oh that this day's labor may be blessed6 and not mine alone1 but all thy faithful servants all over the world1 till thy ,sabbath come4 ,april #bf4--,visiting in ,carron-shore4 ,well received everywhere4 ,truly a pleasant labor4 ,cheered me much4 ,preached to them afterwards from ,proverbs #a4 ,may #h4--;,communion in ,larbert4 ,served as an elder and help to the faithful4 ,partook with some glimpses of faith and joy4 ,served by a faithful old minister 7,mr4 ,dempster of ,denny71 one taught of ,god4 ,this morning stood by the dying--evening1 stood by the dead1 poor ,j4,f4 having died last night4 ,i laid my hand on her cold forehead1 and tried to shut her eyes4 ,lord1 give me strength for living to ,thee6--strength also for a dying hour4 ,may #ae4--,this day an annular eclipse of the sun4 ,kept both the services together in order to be in time4 ,truly a beautiful sight to see the shining edge of the sun all round the dark disc of the moon4 ,lord1 one day thy hand shall put out those candles2 for there shall be no need of the sun to lighten the happy land3 the ,lamb is the light thereof2 a sun that cannot be eclipsed--that cannot go down4 ,may #ag4--,visited thirteen families1 and addressed them all in the evening in the school1 on ,jeremiah #a3d1 ',going and weeping4' ,experienced some enlargement of soul2 said some plain things2 and had some desire for their salvation1 that ,god might be praised4 ,may #ba4--,preparation for the ,sabbath4 ,my birth-day4 ,i have lived twenty-three years4 ,blessed be my ,rock4 ,though ,i am a child in knowledge of my ,bible and of ,thee1 yet use me for what a child can do1 or a child can suffer4 ,how few sufferings ,i have had in the year that is past1 except in my own body4 ,oh that as my day is my strength may be6 ,give me strength for a suffering and for a dying hour6 ,may #bb4--,o ,lord1 when ,thou workest1 all discouragements vanish2 when ,thou art away1 anything is a discouragement4 ,blessed be ,god for such a day--one of a thousand6 ,oh6 why not always this8 ,watch and pray4 ,being in ,edinburgh this month1 during the sitting of the ,general ,assembly1 he used the opportunity of revisiting some of his former charge in the ,canongate4 ,j4,s41 a far-off inquirer1 but surely ,god is leading4 ,his hand draws out these tears4 ,interesting visits to ,l41 near death1 and still in the same mind4 ,i cannot but hope that some faith is here4 ,saw ,mrs4 ,m42 many tears3 felt much1 though ,i am still doubtful1 and in the dark4 ,thou knowest1 ,lord6 ,june #aa4--,yesterday up in ,dunipace4 ,it would seem as if ,i were afraid to name the name of ,christ4 ,saw many worldly people greatly needing a word in season1 yet could not get up my heart to speak4 ,what ,i did failed almost completely4 ,i am not worthy1 ,lord6 ,to-day sought to prepare my heart for the coming ,sabbath4 ,after the example of ,boston1 whose life ,i have been reading1 examined my heart with prayer and fasting4 #a4 ,does my heart really close with the offer of salvation by ,jesus8 ,is it my choice to be saved in the way which gives ,him all the praise1 and me none8 ,do ,i not only see it to be the ,bible way of salvation1 but does it cordially approve itself to my heart as delightful8 ,lord search me and try me1 for ,i cannot but answer1 ,yes1 yes4 #b4 ,is it the desire of my heart to be made altogether holy8 ,is there any sin ,i wish to retain8 ,is sin a grief to me1 the sudden risings and overcomings thereof especially8 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things--,thou knowest that ,i hate all sin1 and desire to be made altogether like ,thee4 ,it is the sweetest word in the ,bible3 ',sin shall not have dominion over you4' ,oh1 then1 that ,i might lie low in the dust1--the lower the better1--that ,jesus' righteousness and ,jesus' strength alone be admired6 ,felt much deadness1 and much grief that ,i cannot grieve for this deadness4 ,towards evening revived4 ,got a calm spirit through psalmody and prayer4 ,june #ab1 ,sabbath4--,to-day a sinner preached ,jesus1 the same ,jesus who has done all things for him and that so lately6 ,a day of much help1 of some earnest looking-up of the heart to that alone quickening power1 of much temptation to flattery and pride4 ,oh for breathing gales of spiritual life6 ,evening--,somewhat helped to lay ,jesus before little children in his beauty and excellency4 ,much fatigue1 yet some peace4 ,surely a day in thy courts is better than a thousand4 ,june #ae4--;,day of visiting 7rather a happy one7 in ,carron-shore4 ,large meeting in the evening4 ,felt very happy after it1 though mourning for bitter speaking of the gospel4 ,surely it is a gentle message1 and should be spoken with angelic tenderness1 especially by such a needy sinner4 ,of this bitterness in preaching1 he had little indeed in after days2 yet so sensible was he of its being quite natural to all of us1 that oftentimes he made it the subject of conversation1 and used to grieve over himself if he had spoken with anything less than solemn compassion4 ,i remember on one occasion1 when we met1 he asked what my last ,sabbath's subject had been4 ,it had been1 ,the wicked shall be turned into hell4 ,on hearing this awful test1 he asked1 ,were you able to preach it with tenderness8 ,certain it is that the tone of reproach and upbraiding is widely different from the voice of solemn warning4 ,it is not saying hard things that pierces the consciences of our people2 it is the voice of divine love heard amid the thunder4 ,the sharpest point of the two-edged sword is not death1 but life2 and against self-righteous souls this latter ought to be more used than the former4 ,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 immediate return4 ,when we preach that the glad tidings were intended to impart immediate assurance of eternal life to every sinner that believes them1 we strike deeper upon the proud enmity of the world to ,god1 then when we show the eternal curse and the second death4 ,june #ai1 ,sabbath4--,wet morning4 ,preached at ,dunipace to a small audience1 on ,parable of the ,tares4 ,i thank ,god for that blessed parable4--,in both discourses ,i can look back on many hateful thoughts of pride1 and self-admiration1 and love of praise1 stealing the heart out of the service4 ,june #bb4--;,carron-shore4 ,my last4 ,some tears2 yet ,i fear some like the messenger1 not the message2 and ,i fear ,i am so vain as to love that love4 ,lord1 let it not be so4 ,perish my honor1 but let thine be exalted forever4 ,june #bf4--,true ,sabbath-day4 ,golden sky4 ,full church1 and more liveliness than sometimes4 ,shall ,i call the liveliness of this day a gale of the ,spirit1 or was all natural8 ,i know that all was not of grace2 the self-admiration1 the vanity1 the desire of honor1 the bitterness--these were all breaths of earth or hell4 ,but was there no grace8 ,lord1 ,thou knowest4 ,i dare not wrong ,thee by saying--,no6 ,larbert ,sabbath school with the same liveliness and joy4 ,domestic work with the same4 ,praised be ,god6 ,oh that the savor of it may last through the week6 ,by this may ,i test if it be all of nature1 or much of grace4 ,alas6 how ,i tremble for my ,monday mornings--those seasons of lifelessness4 ,lord1 bless the seeds sown this day in the hearts of my friends1 by the hand of my friends1 and all over the world--hasten the harvest6 ,july #c4--;,after a week of working and hurried preparation1 a ,sabbath of mingled peace and pain4 ,called1 morning before preaching1 to see ,mrs4 ,e41 dying4 ,preached on the ,jailor--discomposedly--with some glimpses of the genuine truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,felt there was much mingling of experience4 ,at times the congregation was lightened up from their dull flatness1 and then they sunk again into lethargy4 ,o ,lord1 make me hang on ,thee to open their hearts1 ,thou opener of ,lydia's heart4 ,i fear ,thou wilt not bless my preaching1 until ,i am brought thus to hang on ,thee4 ,oh keep not back a blessing for my sin6 ,afternoon--,on the ,highway of the ,redeemed1 with more ease and comfort4 ,felt the truth sometimes boiling up from my heart into my words4 ,some glimpses of tenderness1 yet much less of that spirit than the last two ,sabbaths4 ,again saw the dying woman4 ,oh when will ,i plead1 with my tears and inward yearnings1 over sinners6 ,oh1 compassionate ,lord1 give me to know what manner of spirit ,i am of6 give me thy gentle ,spirit1 that neither strives nor cries4 ,much weariness1 want of prayerfulness1 and want of cleaving to ,christ4 ,tuesday the #eth being the anniversary of his licence to preach the gospel1 he writes3 ,eventful week2 one year ,i have preached ,jesus1 have ,i8 or myself8 ,i have often preached myself also1 but ,jesus ,i have preached4 ,about this time he again felt the hand of affliction1 though it did not continue long4 ,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 ministry4 ,july #h4--,since ,tuesday have been laid up with illness4 ,set by once more for a season to feel my unprofitableness and cure my pride4 ,when shall this self-choosing temper be healed8 ',lord1 ,i will preach1 run1 visit1 wrestle1' said ,i4 ',no1 thou shalt lie in thy bed and suffer1' said the ,lord4 ,to-day missed some fine opportunities of speaking a word for ,christ4 ,the ,lord saw ,i would have spoken as much for my own honor as his1 and therefore shut my mouth4 ,i see a man cannot be a faithful minister1 until he preaches ,christ for ,christ's sake--until he gives up striving to attract people to himself1 and seeks only to attract them to ,christ4 ,lord1 give me this6 ,to-night some glimpses of humbling1 and therefore some wrestling in social prayer4 ,but my prayers are scarcely to be called prayer4 ,then1 in the evening3 ,this day my brother has been five years absent from the body and present with the ,lord1 and knows more and loves more than all earthly saints together4 ,till the day break and the shadows flee away1 turn1 my ,beloved6 ,july #aj4--;,i fear ,i am growing more earthly in some things4 ,to-day ,i felt a difficulty in bringing in spiritual conversation immediately after preaching1 when my bosom should be burning4 ,excused myself from dining out from other than the grand reason2 though checked and corrected myself4 ,evening--,insensibly slid into worldly conversation4 ,let these things be corrected in me1 ,o ,lord1 by the heart being more filled with love to ,jesus1 and more ejaculatory prayer4 ,july #ag1 ,sabbath4--,oh that ,i may remember my own word this day3 that the hour of communion is the hour for the foxes--the little foxes--to spoil the wine4 ,two things that defile this day in looking back1 are love of praise running through all1 and consenting to listen to worldly talk at all4 ,oh that these may keep me humble and be my burden1 leading me to the cross4 ,then1 ,satan1 thou wilt be outwitted6 ,july #ai4--;,died1 this day1 ,w4 ,m',cheyne1 my cousin-german1 ,relief minister1 ,kelso4 ,oh how ,i repent of our vain controversies on ,establishments when we last met1 and that we spoke so little of ,jesus6 ,oh that we had spoken more one to another6 ,lord1 teach me to be always speaking as dying to dying4 ,july #bd4--;,dunipace ,communion--,heard ,mr4 ,purves of ,jedburgh preach1 ',therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation4' ,the only way to come to ordinances1 and to draw from the well1 is to come with the matter of acceptance settled1 believing ,god's anger to be turned away4 ,truly a precious view of the freeness of the gospel very refreshing4 ,my soul needs to be roused much to apprehend this truth4 ,above 7,july #c7 he spoke of mingling experience with the genuine truth as it is in ,jesus4 ,it is to this that he refers again in the last paragraph4 ,his deep acquaintance with the human heart and passions often lead him to dwell at greater length1 not only on those topics whereby the sinner might be brought to discover his guilt1 but also on marks that would evidence a change1 that on the glad tidings4 ,and yet he ever felt that these blessed tidings1 addressed to souls in the very gall of bitterness1 were the true theme of the minister of ,christ2 and never did he preach other than a full salvation ready for the chief of sinners4 ,from the very first1 also1 he carefully avoided the error of those who rather speculate or doctrinize about the gospel1 than preach the gospel itself4 ,is not the true idea of preaching that of one1 like ,ahimaaz1 coming with all-important tidings1 and intent on making these tidings known8 ,occupied with the facts he has to tell1 he has no heart to speculate on mere abstractions2 nay1 he is apt to forget what language he employs1 excepting so far as the very grandeur of the tidings gives a glow of eloquence to his words4 ,the glorious fact1 ,by this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins1 is the burden of every sermon4 ,the crier is sent to the openings of the gate by his ,lord1 to herald forth this one infinitely important truth through the whole creation under heaven4 ,he seems invariably to have applied for his personal benefit what he gave out to his people4 ,we have already noticed how he used to feed on the word1 not in order to prepare himself for his people1 but for personal edification4 ,to do so was a fundamental rule with him2 and all pastors will feel that1 if they are to prosper in their own souls1 they must so use the word1--sternly refusing to admit the idea of feeding others1 until satiated themselves4 ,and for similar ends it is needful that we let the truth we hear preached sink down into our own souls4 ,we1 as well as our people1 must drink in the falling shower4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne did so4 ,it is common to find him speaking thus3 ,july #ca1 ,sabbath4--,afternoon1 on ,judas betraying ,christ2 much more tenderness than ever ,i felt before4 ,oh that ,i might abide in the bosom of ,him who washed ,judas' feet1 and dipped his hand in the same dish with him1 and warned him1 and grieved over him--that ,i might catch the infection of his love1 of his tenderness1 so wonderful1 so unfathomable4 ,coming home on a ,sabbath evening 7,aug4 #gth7 from ,torwood ,sabbath school1 a person met him who suggested an opportunity of usefulness4 ,there were two families of gypsies encamped at ,torwood1 within his reach4 ,he was weary with a long day's labor2 but instantly1 as was his custom on such a call1 set off to find them4 ,by the side of their wood-fire1 he opened out the parable of the ,lost ,sheep1 and pressed it on their souls in simple terms4 ,he then knelt down in prayer for them1 and left them somewhat impressed1 and very grateful4 ,at this time a youthful parishioner1 for whose soul he felt much anxiety1 left his father's roof4 ,ever watchful for souls1 he seized this opportunity of laying before him more fully the things belonging to his peace4 ,larbert1 ,august #h1 #ahcf ,,my ,,dear ,g4----4 ,you will be surprised to hear from me4 ,i have often wished to be better acquainted with you2 but in these sad parishes we cannot manage to know and be intimate with every one we would desire4 ,and now you have left your father's roof and our charge2 still my desires go after you1 as well as the kind thoughts of many others2 and since ,i cannot now speak to you1 ,i take this way of expressing my thoughts to you4 ,i do not know in what light you look upon me1 whether as a grave and morose minister1 or as one who might be a companion and friend2 but really1 it is so short a while since ,i was just like you1 when ,i enjoyed the games which you now enjoy1 and read the books which you now read1 that ,i never can think of myself as anything more than a boy4 ,this is one great reason why ,i write to you4 ,the same youthful blood flows in my veins that flows in yours1 the same fancies and buoyant passions dance in my bosom as in yours2 so that when ,i would persuade you to come with me to the same ,saviour1 and to walk the rest of your life 'led by the ,spirit of ,god1' ,i am not persuading you to anything beyond your years4 ,i am not like a grey-headed grandfather1--then you might answer all ,i say by telling me that you are a boy4 ,no2 ,i am almost as much a boy as you are2 as fond of happiness and of life as you are2 as fond of scampering over the hills1 and seeing all that is to be seen1 as you are4 ,another thing that persuades me to write you1 my dear boy1 is1 that ,i have felt in my own experience the want of having a friend to direct and counsel me4 ,i had a kind brother as you have1 who taught me many things4 ,he gave me a ,bible1 and persuaded me to read it2 he tried to train me as a gardener trains the apple-tree upon the wall2 but all in vain4 ,i thought myself far wiser than he1 and would always take my own way2 and many a time1 ,i well remember1 ,i have seen him reading his ,bible1 or shutting his closet door to pray1 when ,i have been dressing to go to some frolic1 or some dance of folly4 ,well1 this dear friend and brother died2 and though his death made a greater impression upon me than ever his life had done1 still ,i found the misery of being friendless4 ,i do not mean that ,i had no relations and worldly friends1 for ,i had many2 but ,i had no friend who cared for my soul4 ,i had none to direct me to the ,saviour--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 heart1 and give the victory over passions4 ,i had no minister to take me by the hand1 and say1 ',come with me1 and we will do thee good4' ,yes1 ,i had one friend and minister1 but that was ,jesus himself1 and ,he led me in a way that makes me give ,him1 and ,him only1 all the praise4 ,now1 though ,jesus may do this again1 yet the more common way with ,him is to use earthly guides4 ,now1 if ,i could supply the place of such a guide to you1 ,i should be happy4 ,to be a finger-post is all that ,i want to be--pointing out the way4 ,this is what ,i so much wanted myself2 this is what you need not want1 unless you wish4 ,tell me1 dear ,g41 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 tranquilly at night--if you had the forgiveness of sins1 that is1 if all your wicked thoughts and deeds--lies1 thefts1 and ,sabbath-breakings--were all blotted out of ,god's book of remembrance8 ,would this make you less happy1 do you think8 ,you dare not say it would4 ,but would the forgiveness of sins not make you more happy than you are8 ,perhaps you will tell me that you are very happy as you are4 ,i quite believe you4 ,i know that ,i was very happy when ,i was unforgiven4 ,i know that ,i had great pleasure in many sins--in ,sabbath-breaking1 for instance4 ,many a delightful walk ,i have had1--speaking my own words1 thinking my own thoughts1 and seeking my own pleasure on ,god's holy day4 ,i fancy few boys were ever happier in an unconverted state than ,i was4 ,no sorrow clouded my brow--no tears filled my eyes1 unless over some nice story-book2 so that ,i know that you say quite true1 when you say that you are happy as you are4 ,but ah6 is not this just the saddest thing of all1 that you should be happy whilst you are a child of wrath1--that you should smile1 and eat1 and drink1 and be merry1 and sleep sound1 when this very night you may be in hell8 ,happy while unforgiven6--a terrible happiness4 ,it is like the ,hindoo widow who sits upon the funeral pile with her dead husband1 and sings songs of joy when they are setting fire to the wood with which she is to be burned4 ,yes1 you may be quite happy in this way1 till you die1 my boy2 but when you look back from hell1 you will say1 it was a miserable kind of happiness4 ,now1 do you think it would not give you more happiness to be forgiven1--to be able to put on ,jesus1 and say1 ',god's anger is turned away8' ,would not you be happier at work1 and happier in the house1 and happier in your bed8 ,i can assure you from all that ever ,i have felt of it1 the pleasures of being forgiven are as superior to the pleasures of an unforgiven man1 as heaven is higher than hell4 ,the peace of being forgiven reminds me of the calm1 blue sky1 which no earthly clamors can disturb4 ,it lightens all labor1 sweetens every morsel of bread1 and makes a sick-bed all soft and downy2 yea1 it takes away the scowl of death4 ,now1 forgiveness may be yours now4 ,it is not given to those who are good4 ,it is not given to any because they are less wicked than others4 ,it is given only to those who1 feeling that their sins have brought a curse on them which they cannot lift off1 'look unto ,jesus1' as bearing all away4 ,now1 my dear boy1 ,i have no wish to weary you4 ,if you are anything like what ,i was1 you will have yawned many a time already over this letter4 ,however1 if the ,lord deal graciously with you1 and touch your young heart1 as ,i pray ,he may1 with a desire to be forgiven1 and to be made a child of ,god1 perhaps you will not take ill what ,i have written to you in much haste4 ,as this is the first time you have been away from home1 perhaps you have not learned to write letters yet2 but if you have1 ,i would like to hear from you1 how you come on--what convictions you feel1 if you feel any--what difficulties1 what parts of the ,bible puzzle you1 and then ,i would do my best to unravel them4 ,you read your ,bible regularly1 of course2 but do try and understand it1 and still more1 to feel it4 ,read more parts than one at a time4 ,for example1 if you are reading ,genesis1 read a psalm also2 or1 if you are reading ,matthew1 read a small bit of an epistle also4 ,turn the ,bible into prayer4 ,thus1 if you were reading the #ast ,psalm1 spread the ,bible on the chair before you1 and kneel1 and pray1 ',o ,lord1 give me the blessedness of the man1' etc4 ',let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly1' etc4 ,this is the best way of knowing the meaning of the ,bible1 and of learning to pray4 ,in prayer confess your sins by name--going over those of the past day1 one by one4 ,pray for your friends by name--father1 mother1 etc4 etc4 ,if you love them1 surely you will pray for their souls4 ,i know well that there are prayers constantly ascending for you from your own house2 and will you not pray for them back again8 ,do this regularly4 ,if you pray sincerely for others1 it will make you pray for yourself4 ,but ,i must be done4 ,good-bye1 dear ,g4 ,remember me to your brother kindly1 and believe me your sincere friend1 ,r4,m4,m4 ,it is the shepherd's duty 7,ezek4 #cd3d71 in visiting his flock1 to discriminate2 strengthening the diseased1 healing that which was sick1 binding up that which was broken1 bringing again that which was driven away1 seeking that which was lost4 ,this ,mr4 ,m',cheyne tried to do4 ,in an after-letter to ,mr4 ,somerville of ,anderston1 in reference to the people of these parishes1 whom he had had means of knowing1 he wrote1 ,take more heed to the saints than ever ,i did4 ,speak a word in season to ,s4,m4 ,s4,h4 will drink in simple truth1 but tell him to be humble-minded4 ,cause ,l4,h4 to learn in silence2 speak not of religion to her1 but speak to her case always4 ,teach ,a4,m4 to look simply at ,jesus4 ,j4,a4 warn and teach4 ,get worldliness from the ,b4's1 if you can4 ,mrs4 ,g4 awake or keep awake4 ,speak faithfully to the ,b4's4 ,tell me of ,m4,c41 if she is really a believer1 and grows4 ,a4,k41 has the light visited her8 ,m4,t4 ,i have had some doubts of4 ,m4,g4 lies sore upon my conscience2 ,i did no good to that woman3 she always managed to speak of things about the truth4 ,speak boldly4 ,what matter in eternity the slight awkwardnesses of time6 ,it was about this time that the managers and congregation of the new church1 ,st4 ,peter's1 ,dundee1 invited him to preach as one of the candidates2 and1 in the end of ,august1 chose him to be their pastor1 with one accord4 ,he accepted the call under an awful sense of the work that lay before him4 ,he would rather1 he said1 have made choice for himself of such a rural parish as ,dunipace2 but the ,lord seemed to desire it otherwise4 ,his ways are in the sea4 ,more than once1 at a later period1 he would say1 ,we might have thought that ,god would have sent a strong man to such a parish as mine1 and not a feeble reed4 ,the first day he preached in ,st4 ,peter's as a candidate 7,august #adth7 is thus recorded3 ,forenoon--,mind not altogether in a preaching frame2 on the ,sower4 ,afternoon--,with more encouragement and help of the ,spirit2 on the voice of the ,beloved1 in ,cant4 #b3h-ag4f ,in the ,evening--,with all my heart2 on ,ruth4 ,lord1 keep me humble4 ,returning from ,st4 ,peter's the second time1 he observed in his class of girls at ,dunipace more than usual anxiety4 ,one of them seemed to be thoroughly awakened that evening4 ,thanks be to ,thee1 ,lord1 for anything1 he writes that evening2 for as yet he had sown without seeing fruit4 ,it seems to have been part of the ,lord's dealing with him1 thus to teach him to persevere in duty and in faith1 even where there was no obvious success4 ,the arrow that was yet to wound hundreds was then receiving its point2 but it lay in the quiver for a time4 ,the ,lord seemed to be touching his own heart1 and melting it by what he spoke to others1 rather than touching or melting the hearts of those he spoke to4 ,but from the day of his preaching in ,st4 ,peter's1 tokens of success began4 ,his first day there1 especially the evening sermon on ,ruth1 was blessed to two souls in ,dundee2 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 vain4 #f ,see this characteristic sermon in the ,remains4 ,as he was now to leave this sphere1 he sought out1 with deep anxiety1 a laborer who would help their overburdened pastor1 in true love to the people's souls4 ,he believed he had found such a laborer in ,mr4 ,somerville1 his friend who had shared his every thought and feeling in former days1 and who1 with a sharp sickle in his hand1 was now advancing toward the harvest field4 ,i see plainly1 he wrote to ,mr4 ,bonar1 that my poor attempts at labor in your clear parish will soon be eclipsed4 ,but if at length the iron front of unbelief give way1 if the hard faces become furrowed with the tears of anxiety and of faith1 under whatever ministry1 you will rejoice1 and ,i will rejoice1 and the angels1 and the ,father and ,god of angels1 will rejoice4 ,it was in this spirit that he closed his short ten months of labor in this region4 ,his last sermons to the people of ,larbert and ,dunipace were on ,hosea #ad3a1 ,o ,israel1 return unto the ,lord thy ,god2 and ,jeremiah #h3bj1 ,harvest is past4 ,in the evening he writes1 ,lord1 ,i feel bowed down because of the little ,i have done for them which ,thou mightest have blessed6 ,my bowels yearn over them1 and all the more that ,i have done so little4 ,indeed1 ,i might have done ten times as much as ,i have done4 ,i might have been in every house2 ,i might have spoken always as a minister4 ,lord1 canst ,thou bless partial1 unequal efforts8 ,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 evening1 with a reference to our engagements in the ministry next day4 ,this concert for prayer we have never since seen cause to discontinue4 ,it has from time to time been widened in its circle2 and as yet his has been the only voice that has been silenced of all that thus began to go in on each other's behalf before the ,lord4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne never failed to remember this time of prayer3 ,larbert and ,dunipace are always on my heart1 especially on the ,saturday evenings1 when ,i pray for a glorious ,sabbath6 ,on one occasion1 in ,dundee1 he was asked if the accumulation of business in his parish never led him to neglect the season of prayer on a busy ,saturday4 ,his reply was1 that he was not aware that it ever did4 ,what would my people do if ,i were not to pray8 ,so steady was he in ,sabbath preparations1 from the first day to the last time he was with them1 that though at prayer-meetings1 or similar occasions1 he did not think it needful to have much laid up before coming to address his people2 yet1 anxious to give them on the ,sabbath what had cost him somewhat1 he never1 without an urgent reason1 went before them without much previous meditation and prayer4 ,his principle on this subject was embodied in a remark he made to some of us who were conversing on the matter4 ,being asked his view of diligent preparation for the pulpit1 he reminded us of ,exodus #bg3bj3 ,beaten oil--beaten oil for the lamps of the sanctuary ,and yet his prayerfulness was greater still4 ,indeed1 he could not neglect fellowship with ,god before entering the congregation4 ,he needed to be bathed in the love of ,god4 ,his ministry was so much a bringing out of views that had first sanctified his own soul1 that the healthiness of his soul was absolutely needful to the vigor and power of his ministrations4 ,during these ten months the ,lord had done much for him1 but it was chiefly in the way of discipline for a future ministry4 ,he had been taught a minister's heart2 he had been tried in the furnace2 he had tasted deep personal sorrow1 little of which has been recorded2 he had felt the fiery darts of temptation2 he had been exercised in self-examination and in much prayer2 he had proved how flinty is the rock1 and had learned that in lifting the rod by which it was to be smitten1 success lay in ,him alone who enabled him to lift it up4 ,and thus prepared of ,god for the peculiar work that awaited him1 he had turned his face towards ,dundee1 and took up his abode in the spot where the ,lord was so marvelously to visit him in his ministry4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,first ,,years ,,of ,,labor ,,in ,,dundee4 ,ye know1 from the first day that ,i came into ,asia1 after what manner ,i have been with you at all seasons1 serving the ,lord with all humility of mind1 and with many tears and temptations--,acts #bj3ah1 #ai4 ,the day on which he was ordained pastor of a flock1 was a day of much anxiety to his soul4 ,he had journeyed by ,perth to spend the night preceding under the roof of his kind friend ,mr4 ,grierson1 in the manse of ,errol4 ,next morning1 ere he left the manse1 three passages of ,scripture occupied his mind4 #a4 ,thou shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ,thee2 because he trusteth in ,thee4--,isaiah #bf3c4 ,this verse was seasonable2 for1 as he sat meditating on the solemn duties of the day1 his heart trembled4 #b4 ,give thyself wholly to these things--,i ,tim4 #d3ae4 ,may that word 7he prayed7 sink deep into my heart4 #c4 ,here am ,i1 send me--,isaiah #f3h4 ,to go1 or to stay1--to be here till death1 or to visit foreign shores1 whatsoever1 wheresoever1 whensoever ,thou pleasest4 ,he rose from his knees with the prayer1 ,lord1 may thy grace come with the laying on of the hands of the ,presbytery4 ,he was ordained on ,november #bd1 #ahcf4 ,the service was conducted by ,mr4 ,roxburgh of ,st4 ,john's1 through whose exertions the new church had been erected1 and who ever afterwards cherished the most cordial friendship towards him4 ,on the ,sabbath following he was introduced to his flock by ,mr4 ,john ,bonar of ,larbert1 with whom he had labored as a son in the gospel4 ,himself preached in the afternoon upon ,isaiah #fa3a-c1 ,the ,spirit of the ,lord is upon me etc42 of which he writes1 ,may it be prophetic of the object of my coming here6 ,and truly it was so4 ,that very sermon--the first preached by him as a pastor--was the means of awakening souls1 as he afterwards learned2 and ever onward the impressions left by his words seemed to spread and deepen among his people4 ,to keep up the remembrance of this solemn day1 he used in all the subsequent years of his ministry to preach from this same text on the anniversary of his ordination4#g ,in the evening of that day1 ,mr4 ,bonar again preached on ,these times of refreshing4 ,a noble sermon1 showing the marks of such times4 ,ah6 when shall we have them here8 ,lord bless this word1 to help their coming6 ,put thy blessing upon this day6 ,felt given over to ,god1 as one bought with a price4 #g ,the ,acceptable ,year of the ,lord was one of these ,anniversary ,sermons1 preached ,november #ahdj4 ,there was a rapid growth in his soul1 perceptible to all who knew him well1 from this time4 ,even his pulpit preparations1 he used to say1 became easier from this date4 ,he had earnestly sought that the day of his ordination might be a time of new grace2 he expected it would be so2 and there was a peculiar work to be done by his hands1 for which the ,holy ,spirit did speedily prepare him4 ,his diary does not contain much of his feelings during his residence in ,dundee4 ,his incessant labors left him little time1 except what he scrupulously spent in the direct exercises of devotion4 ,but what we have seen of his manner of study and self-examination at ,larbert1 is sufficient to show in what a constant state of cultivation his soul was kept2 and his habits in these respects continued with him to the last4 ,jeremy ,taylor recommends3 ,if thou meanest to enlarge thy religion1 do it rather by enlarging thine ordinary devotions than thy extraordinary4 ,this advice describes very accurately the plan of spiritual life on which ,mr4 ,m',cheyne acted4 ,he did occasionally set apart seasons for special prayer and fasting1 occupying the time so set apart exclusively in devotion4 ,but the real secret of his soul's prosperity lay in the daily enlargement of his heart in fellowship with his ,god4 ,and the river deepened as it flowed on to eternity2 so that he at least reached the feature of a holy pastor which ,paul pointed out to ,timothy 7#d3ae73 ,his profiting did appear to all4 ,in his own house everything was fitted to make you feel that the service of ,god was a cheerful service1 while he sought that every arrangement of the family should bear upon eternity4 ,his morning hours were set apart for the nourishment of his own soul2 not1 however1 with the view of laying up a stock of grace for the rest of the day1--for manna will corrupt if laid by1--but rather with the view of giving the eye the habit of looking upward all the day1 and drawing down gleams from the reconciled countenance4 ,he was sparing in the hours devoted to sleep1 and resolutely secured time for devotion before breakfast1 although often wearied and exhausted when he laid himself to rest4 ,a soldier of the cross1 was his remark1 must endure hardness4 ,often he sang a psalm of praise1 as soon as he arose1 to stir up his soul4 ,three chapters of the word was his usual morning portion4 ,this he thought little enough1 for he delighted exceedingly in the ,scriptures3 they were better to him than thousands of gold or silver4 ,when you write1 said he to a friend1 tell me the meaning of ,scriptures4 ,to another1 in expressing his value for the word1 he said1 ,one gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams4 ,his chief season of relaxation seemed to be breakfast-time4 ,he would come down with a happy countenance and a full soul2 and after the sweet season of family prayer1 forthwith commence forming plans for the day4 ,when he was well1 nothing seemed to afford him such true delight as to have his hands full of work4 ,indeed1 it was often remarked that in him you found--what you rarely meet with--a man of high poetic imagination and deep devotion1 who nevertheless was engaged unceasingly in the busiest and most laborious activities of his office4 ,his friends could observe how much his soul was engrossed during his times of study of devotion4 ,if interrupted on such occasions1 though he never seemed ruffled1 yet there was a kind of gravity and silence that implied--,i wish to be alone4 ,but he further aimed at enjoying ,god all the day4 ,and referring on one occasion to those blank hours which so often are a believer's burden1--hours during which the soul is dry and barren1--he observed1 ,they are proofs of how little we are filled with the presence of ,god1 how little we are branchlike#h in our faith4 #h ,compare ,zechariah #d3ab with ,john #ae3e4 ,this careful attention to the frame of his spirit did not hinder his preparation for his people2 on the contrary1 it kept alive his deep conscientiousness1 and kept his warm compassion ever yearning4 ,when asked to observe a ,saturday as a day of fasting and prayer1 along with some others who had a special object in view1 he replied1 ,saturday is an awkward day for ministers2 for though ,i love to seek help from on high1 ,i love also diligently to set my thoughts in order for the ,sabbath4 ,i sometimes fear that you fail in this latter duty4 ,during his first years in ,dundee1 he often rode out in an afternoon to the ruined church of ,invergowrie1 to enjoy an hour's perfect solitude2 for he felt meditation and prayer to be the very sinews of his work4 ,such notices1 also1 as the following1 show his systematic pursuit of personal holiness3-- ,april #i1 #ahcg1 ,evening4--,a very pleasant quietness4 ,study of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews4 ,came to a more intelligent view of the first six chapters than ever before4 ,much refreshed by ,john ,newton2 instructed by ,edwards4 ,help and freedom in prayer4 ,lord1 what a happy season is a ,sabbath evening6 ,what will heaven be6 ,april #af1 ,sabbath evening4--,much prayer and peace4 ,reading the ,bible only4 ,june #b4--,much peace and rest to-night4 ,much broken under a sense of my exceeding wickedness1 which no eye can see but thine4 ,much persuasion of the sufficiency of ,christ1 and of the constancy of his love4 ,oh how sweet to work all day for ,god1 and then to lie down at night under his smiles6 ,june #ag1 #ahch4--;,at ,dumbarney communion4 ,much sin and coldness two days before4 ,lay low at his feet2 found peace only in ,jesus4 ,sept4 #be4--,spent last week at ,blairgowrie2 ,i hope not in vain4 ,much sin1 weakness1 and uselessness2 much delight in the word also1 while opening it up at family prayer4 ,may ,god make the word fire4 ,opened ,i ,thessalonians1 the whole2 enriching to my own mind4 ,how true is ,psalm #a6 yet observed in my heart a strange proneness to be entangled with the affairs of this life2 not strange because ,i am good1 but because ,i have been so often taught that bitterness is the end of it4 ,sept4 #bg4--;,devoted chief part of ,friday to fasting4 ,humbled and refreshed4 ,sept4 #cj1 ,sabbath4--,very happy in my work4 ,too little prayer in the morning4 ,must try to get early to bed on ,saturday1 that ,i may 'rise a great while before day4' ,these early hours of prayer on ,sabbath he endeavored to have all his life2 not for study1 but for prayer4 ,he never labored at his sermons on a ,sabbath4 ,that day he kept for its original end1 the refreshment of his soul4 7,exodus #ca3ag47 ,the parish of ,st4 ,peter's1 to which he had come1 was large and very destitute4 ,it is situated at the west end of the town1 and included some part of the adjacent country4 ,the church was built in connection with the ,church ,extension ,scheme4 ,the parish was a quoard sacra parish1 detached from ,st4 ,john's4 ,it contains a population of #d1jjj souls1 very many of whom never crossed the threshold of any sanctuary4 ,his congregation amounted at the very outset1 to about #a1ajj hearers1 one-third of whom came from distant parts of the town4 ,here was a wide field for parochial labor4 ,it was also a very dead region--few1 even of those who were living ,christians1 breathing their life on others2 for the surrounding mass of impenetrate heathenism had cast its sad influence even over them4 ,his first impressions of ,dundee were severe4 ,a city given to idolatry and hardness of heart4 ,i fear there is much of what ,isaiah speaks of3 ',the prophets prophesy lies1 and the people love to have it so4' ,his first months of labor were very trying4 ,he was not strong in bodily health1 and that winter a fatal influenza prevailed for two or three months1 so that most of his time in his parish was spent in visiting the sick and dying4 ,in such cases he was always ready4 ,did ,i tell you of the boy ,i was asked to see on ,sabbath evening1 just when ,i got myself comfortably seated at home8 ,i went1 and was speaking to him of the freeness and fulness of ,jesus1 when he gasped a little and died4 ,in one of his first visits to the sick1 the narrative of the ,lord's singular dealings with one of his parishioners greatly encouraged him to carry the glad tidings to the distressed under every disadvantage4 ,four years before1 a young woman had been seized with cholera1 and was deprived of the use of speech for a whole year4 ,the ,bible was read to her1 and men of ,god used to speak and pray with her4 ,at the end of the year her tongue was loosed1 and the first words heard from her lips were praise and thanksgiving for what the ,lord had done for her soul4 ,it was in her chamber he was now standing1 hearing from her own lips what the ,lord had wrought4 ,on another occasion during the first year of his ministry1 he witnessed the death-bed conversion of a man who1 till within a few days of his end1 almost denied that there was a ,god4 ,this solid conversion1 as he believed it to be1 stirred him up to speak with all hopefulness1 as well as earnestness1 to the dying4 ,but it was1 above all1 to the children of ,god that his visitations seemed blessed4 ,his voice1 and his very eye1 spoke tenderness2 for personal affliction had taught him to feel sympathy with the sorrowing4 ,though the following be an extract from a letter1 yet it will be recognised by many as exhibiting his mode of dealing with ,god's afflicted ones in his visitations3 ,there is a sweet word in ,exodus 7#c3g71 which was pointed out to me the other day by a poor bereaved child of ,god3 ',i know their sorrows4' ,study that2 it fills the soul4 ,another word like it is in ,psalm #ajc3ad3 ',he knoweth our frame4' ,may your own soul1 and that of your dear friends1 be fed by these things4 ,a dark hour makes ,jesus bright4 ,another sweet word3 ',they knew not that it was ,jesus4' ,i find some specimens of his sick visits among his papers1 noted down at a time when his work had not grown upon his hands4 ,january #be1 #ahcg--,visited ,mt4 ,m',bain1 a young woman of twenty-four1 long ill of decline4 ,better or worse these ten years past4 ,spoke of ',the one thing needful' plainly4 ,she sat quiet4 ,february #ad--;,had heard she was better--found her near dying4 ,spoke plainly and tenderly to her1 commending ,christ4 ,used many texts4 ,she put out her hand kindly on leaving4 #aeth--,still dying like2 spoke as yesterday4 ,she never opened her eyes4 #afth--,showed her the dreadfulness of wrath2 freeness of ,christ2 the majesty1 justice1 truth of ,god4 ,poor ,m4 is fast going the way whence she shall not return4 ,many neighbors also always gather in4 #agth--,read ,psalm #bb2 showed the sufferings of ,christ2 how sufficient an atonement2 how feeling a ,high ,priest4 ,she breathed loud1 and groaned through pain4 ,died this evening at seven4 ,i hardly ever heard her speak anything2 and ,i will hope that thou art with ,christ in glory1 till ,i go and see4 #bjth--,prayed at her funeral4 ,saw her laid in ,st4 ,peter's churchyard1 the first laid there1 by her own desire1 in the fresh mould where never man was laid4 ,may it be a token that she is with ,him who was laid in a new tomb4 ,he records another case3 ,january #d1 #ahcg--,sent for to ,mrs4 ,s----4 ,very ill2 asthmatic4 ,spoke on ',no condemnation to them that are in ,christ4' ,she said1 ',but am ,i in ,christ8' seemingly very anxious4 ,said she had often been so1 and had let it go by4 #eth--,still living2 spoke to her of ,christ1 and of full salvation4 7,myself confined in the house till the #afth47--,much worse4 ,not anxious to hear1 yet far from rest4 ,dark1 uneasy eye4 ,asked me1 ',what is it to believe8' ,spoke to her on ',god1 who made light shine out of darkness4' ,she seemed to take up nothing4 ,lord1 help6 #agth--,still worse2 wearing away4 ,no smile2 no sign of inward peace4 ,spoke of ',remember me4' ,went over the whole gospel in the form of personal address4 ,she drowsy4 #ahth--,quieter4 ',my ,lord and my ,god4' ,she spoke at intervals4 ,more cheerful2 anxious that ,i should not go without prayer4 ,has much knowledge2 complete command of the ,bible4 #aith--,spoke on ',convincing of sin and righteousness4' ,rather more heart to hear4 #bjth--,psalm #ea4 ,her look and her words were lightsome4 #bc;d--,faintish and restless2 no sign of peace4 ',i am the way1' and ,psalm #be4 #bdth--,still silent and little sign of anything4 #bfth--,psalm #dj1 ',the fearful pit4' ,very plain4 ,could not get anything out of her4 ,february #a--;,died at twelve noon2 no visible mark of light1 or comfort1 or hope4 ,the day shall declare it4 ,one other case3 ,february #e1 #ahci4--;,called suddenly in the evening4 ,found him near death4 ,careless family4 ,many round him4 ,spoke of the freeness and sufficiency of ,jesus4 ',come unto me1' etc41 and ',the wrath of ,god revealed from heaven4' ,told him he was going where he would see ,christ6 asked him if ,he would be his ,saviour8 ,he seemed to answer2 his father said1 ',he is saying1 ,yes4' ,but it was the throe of death4 ,one or two indescribable gasps1 and he died6 ,i sat silent1 and let ,god preach4 #gth--,spoke of the ',widow of ,nain1' and ',behold ,i stand at the door4' ,attendance at funerals was often to him a season of much exercise4 ,should it not be to all ministers a time for solemn inquiry8 ,was ,i faithful with this soul8 ,could this soul have learned salvation from me every time ,i saw him8 ,and did ,i pray as fervently as ,i spoke8 ,and if we have tender pity for souls1 we will sometimes feel as ,mr4 ,m',cheyne records3 ,september #bd4--;,buried ,a4,m4 ,felt bitterly the word1 ',if any man draw back4' etc4 ,never had more bitter feelings at any funeral4 ,all who make any pretension to the office of shepherds visit their flocks2#i yet there is a wide difference in the kind of visits which shepherds give4 ,one does it formally1 to discharge his duty and to quiet conscience2 another makes it his delight4 ,and of those who make it their delight1 one goes forth on the regular plan of addressing all in somewhat of the same style2 while another speaks freely1 according as the wounds of his sheep come to view4 ,on all occasions1 this difficult and trying work must be gone about with a full heart1 if it is to be gone about successfully at all4 ,there is little in it to excite1 for there is not the presence of numbers1 and the few you see at a time are in their calmest1 every-day mood4 ,hence there is need of being full of grace1 and need of feeling as though ,god did visit every hearer by your means4 ,our object is not to get duty done1 but to get souls saved4 ,,ii ,cor4 #ac3g4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne used to go forth in this spirit1 and often after visiting from house to house for several hours1 he would return to some room in the place in the evening1 and preach to the gathered families4 ,september #bf1 #ahch4--;,good visiting-day4 ,twelve families2 many of them go nowhere4 ,it is a great thing to be well furnished by meditation and prayer before setting out2 it makes you a far more full and faithful witness4 ,preached in ,a4,f4's house on ,job1 ',i know that my ,redeemer liveth4' ,very sweet and precious to myself4 #i ,baxter 7,reformed ,pastor7 says1 ,i dare prognosticate from knowledge of the nature of true grace1 that all godly ministers will make conscience of this duty1 and address themselves to it1 unless they be1 by some extraordinary accident1 disabled4 ,partly from his state of health1 and partly from the vast accumulation of other labors1 and the calls made on him for evangelizing elsewhere1 he was never able to overtake the visitation of the whole district assigned him4 ,he was blessed to attract and reclaim very many of the most degraded2 and by ,sabbath schools and a regular eldership1 to take superintendence of the population to a great extent4 ,still he himself often said that his parish had never fully shared in the advantages that attend an aggressive system of parochial labor4 ,once when spending a day in the rural parish of ,collace1 as we went in the afternoon from door to door1 and spoke to the children whom we met on the road-side1 he smiled and said1 ,well1 how ,i envy a country minister2 for he can get acquainted with all his people1 and have some insight into their real character4 ,many of us thought that he afterwards erred1 in the abundant frequency of his evangelistic labors at a time when he was still bound to a particular flock4 ,he had an evening class every week for the young people of his congregation4 ,the ,catechism and the ,bible were his text-books1 while he freely introduced all manner of useful illustrations4 ,he thought himself bound to prepare diligently for his classes1 that he might give accurate and simple explanations1 and unite what was interesting with the most solemn and awakening views4 ,but it was his class for young communicants that engaged his deepest care1 and wherein he saw most success4 ,he began a class of this kind previous to his first ,communion1 and continued to form it again some weeks before every similar occasion4 ,his tract1 published in #ahdj1 ,this do in remembrance of ,me1 may be considered as exhibiting the substance of his solemn examination on these occasions4 ,he usually noted down his first impressions of his communicants1 and compared these notes with what he afterwards saw in them4 ,thus3 ,m4,k41 sprightly and lightsome1 yet sensible2 she saw plainly that the converted alone should come to the ,table1 but stumbled at the question1 ,if she were converted8 ,yet she claimed being awakened and brought to ,christ4 ,another3 ,very staid1 intelligent-like person1 with a steady kind of anxiety1 but1 ,i fear1 no feeling of helplessness4 ,thought that sorrow and prayer would obtain forgiveness4 ,told her plainly what ,i thought of her case4 ,another3 ,knows she was once ,christless2 now she reads1 and prays1 and is anxious4 ,i doubt not there is some anxiety1 yet ,i fear it may be only a self-reformation to recommend herself to ,god and to man4 ,told her plainly4 ,a4,m41 ,i fear much for him4 ,gave him a token with much anxiety2 warned him very much4 ,c4,p4 does not seem to have any work of anxiety4 ,he reads prayer-books1 etc4 ,does not pray in secret4 ,seems not very intelligent4 ,he sought to encourage ,sabbath schools in all the districts of his parish4 ,the hymn1 ,oil for the ,lamp1 was written to impress the parable on a class of ,sabbath scholars in #ahda4 ,some of his sweet1 simple tracts were written for these schools4 ,reasons why ,children should fly to ,christ was the first1 written at the ,new ,year #ahci2 and ,the ,lambs of the ,flock was another at a later period4 ,his heart felt for the young4 ,one evening1 after visiting some of his ,sabbath schools1 he writes3 ,had considerable joy in teaching the children4 ,oh for real heart-work among them6 ,he could accommodate himself to their capacities2 and he did not reckon it vain to use his talents in order to attract their attention1 for he regarded the soul of a child as infinitely precious4 ,ever watchful for opportunities1 on the blank leaf of a book which he had sent to a little boy of his congregation1 he wrote these simple lines3-- ,peace be to thee1 gentle boy6 ,many years of health and joy6 ,love your ,bible more than play1 ,grow in wisdom every day4 ,like the lark on hovering wing1 ,early rise1 and mount and sing2 ,like the dove that found no rest ,till it flew to ,noah's breast1 ,rest not in this world of sin1 ,till the ,saviour take thee in4 ,he had a high standard in his mind as to the moral qualifications of those who should teach the young4 ,when a female teacher was sought for to conduct an evening school in his parish for the sake of the mill-girls1 he wrote to one interested in the cause3 ,the qualifications she should possess for sewing and knitting you will understand far better than ,i4 ,she should be able to keep up in her scholars the fluency of reading1 and the knowledge of the ,bible and ,catechism which they may have already acquired4 ,she should be able to teach them to sing the praises of ,god with feeling and melody4 ,but1 far above all1 she should be a ,christian woman1 not in name only but in deed and in truth1--one whose heart has been touched by the ,spirit of ,god1 and who can love the souls of little children4 ,any teacher who wanted this last qualification1 ,i would look upon as a curse rather than a blessing1--a centre of blasting and coldness and death1 instead of a centre from which life and warmth and heavenly influence might emanate4 ,it was very soon after his ordination that he began his weekly prayer-meeting in the church4 ,he had heard how meetings of this kind had been blessed in other places1 and never had he any cause to regret having set apart the ,thursday evening for this holy purpose4 ,one of its first effects was to quicken those who had already believed2 they were often refreshed upon these occasions even more than on the ,sabbath4 ,some of the most solemn seasons of his ministry were at those meetings4 ,at their commencement1 he wrote to me an account of his manner of conducting them3 ,i give my people a ,scripture to be hidden in the heart--generally a promise of the ,spirit or the wonderful effects of his outpouring4#aj ,i give them the heads of a sermon upon it for about twenty minutes4 ,prayer goes before and follows4 ,then ,i read some history of ,revivals1 and comment in passing4 ,i think the people are very much interested in it3 a number of people come from all parts of the town4 ,but1 oh6 ,i need much the living ,spirit to my own soul2 ,i want my life to be hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,at present there is too much hurry1 and bustle1 and outward working1 to allow the calm working of the ,spirit on the heart4 ,i seldom get time to meditate1 like ,isaac1 at evening-tide1 except when ,i am tired2 but the dew comes down when all nature is at rest--when every leaf is still4 #aj ,the first text he gave to be thus hidden in the heart was ,isaiah #cd3ae2 ,until the ,spirit be poured out from on high4 ,a specimen of the happy freedom and familiar illustrations which his people felt to be peculiar to these meetings1 may be found in the notes taken by one of his hearers1 of ,expositions of the ,epistles to the ,seven ,churches1 given during the year #ahch4 ,he had himself great delight in the ,thursday evening meetings4 ,they will doubtless be remembered in eternity with songs of praise1 said he1 on one occasion2 and at another time1 observing the tender frame of a soul which was often manifested at these seasons1 he said1 ,there is a stillness to the last word1--not as on ,sabbaths1 a rushing down at the end of the prayer1 as if glad to get out of ,god's presence4 ,so many believing and so many inquiring souls used to attend1 and so few of the worldlings1 that you seemed to breathe the atmosphere of heaven4 ,but it was his ,sabbath-day's services that brought multitudes together1 and were soon felt throughout the town4 ,he was ever so ready to assist his brethren so much engaged in every good work1 and latterly so often interrupted by inquiries1 that it might be thought he had no time for careful preparation1 and might be excused for the absence of it4 ,but1 in truth1 he never preached without careful attention bestowed on his subject4 ,he might1 indeed1 have little time--often the hours of a ,saturday was all the time he could obtain1--but his daily study of the ,scriptures stored his mind1 and formed a continual preparation4 ,much of his ,sabbath services was a drawing out of what he had carried in during busy days of the week4 ,his voice was remarkably clear1--his manner attractive by its mild dignity4 ,his form itself drew the eye4#aa ,he spoke from the pulpit as one earnestly occupied with the souls before him4 ,he made them feel sympathy with what he spoke1 for his own eye and heart were on them4 ,he was1 at the same time1 able to bring out illustrations at once simple and felicitous1 often with poetic skill and elegance4 ,he wished to use ,saxon words1 for the sake of being understood by the most illiterate in his audience4 ,and while his style was singularly clear1 this clearness itself was so much the consequence of his being able thoroughly to analyse and explain his subject1 that all his hearers alike reaped the benefit4 #aa ,gration est pulchro veniens e corpore virtus4 ,he went about his public work with awful reverence4 ,so evident was this1 that ,i remember a countryman in my parish observed to me3 ,before he opened his lips1 as he came along the passage1 there was something about him that sorely affected me4 ,in the vestry there was never any idle conversation2 all was preparation of heart in approaching ,god2 and a short prayer preceded his entering the pulpit4 ,surely in going forth to speak for ,god1 a man may well be overawed6 ,surely in putting forth his hand to sow the seed of the kingdom1 a man may even tremble6 ,and surely we should aim at nothing less than to pour forth the truth upon our people through the channel of our own living and deeply affected souls4 ,after announcing the subject of his discourse1 he used generally to show the position it occupied in the context1 and then proceed to bring out the doctrines of the text1 in the manner of our old divines4 ,this done1 he divided his subject2 and herein he was eminently skilful4 ,the heads of his sermons1 said a friend1 were not the mile-stones that tell you how near you are to your journey's end1 but they were nails which fixed and fastened all he said4 ,divisions are often dry2 but not so his divisions1--they were so textual and so feeling1 and they brought out the spirit of a passage so surprisingly4 ,it was his wish to arrive nearer at the primitive mode of expounding ,scripture in his sermons4 ,hence when one asked him1 ,if he was never afraid of running short of sermons some day8 he replied1 ,no2 ,i am just an interpreter of ,scripture in my sermons2 and when the ,bible runs dry1 then ,i shall4 ,and in the same spirit he carefully avoided the too common mode of accommodating texts1--fastening a doctrine on the words1 not drawing it from the obvious connection of the passage4 ,he endeavored at all times to preach the mind of the ,spirit in a passage2 for he feared that to do otherwise would be to grieve the ,spirit who had written it4 ,interpretation was thus a solemn matter to him4 ,and yet1 adhering scrupulously to this sure principle1 he felt himself in no way restrained from using1 for every day's necessities1 all parts of the ,old ,testament as much as the ,new4 ,his manner was first to ascertain the primary sense and application1 and so proceed to handle it for present use4 ,thus1 on ,isaiah #bf3af-ai1 he began3 ,this passage1 ,i believe1 refers literally to the conversion of ,god's ancient people4 ,he regarded the prophecies as history yet to be1 and drew lessons from them accordingly as he would have done from the past4 ,every spiritual gift being in the hands of ,jesus1 if he found ,moses or ,paul in the possession of precious things1 he forthwith was led to follow them into the presence of that same ,lord who gave them all their grace4 ,there is a wide difference between preaching doctrine and preaching ,christ4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne preached all the doctrines of ,scripture as understood by our ,confession of ,faith1 dwelling upon ruin by the ,fall1 and recovery by the ,mediator4 ,the things of the human heart1 and the things of the ,divine ,mind1 were in substance his constant theme4 ,from personal experience of deep temptation1 he could lay open the secrets of the heart1 so that he once said1 ,he supposed the reason why some of the worst sinners in ,dundee had come to hear him was1 because his heart exhibited so much likeness to theirs4 ,still it was not doctrine alone that he preached2 it was ,christ1 from whom all doctrine shoots forth as rays from a centre4 ,he sought to hang every vessel and flagon upon ,him4 ,it is strange1 he wrote after preaching on ,revelation #a3ae3 ,it is strange how sweet and precious it is to preach directly about ,christ1 compared with all other subjects of preaching4 ,and he often expressed a dislike of the phrase giving attention to religion1 because it seemed to substitute doctrine1 and a devout way of thinking1 for ,christ himself4 ,it is difficult to convey to those who never knew him a correct idea of the sweetness and holy unction of his preaching4 ,some of his sermons1 printed from his own ,,mss4 7although almost all are first copies71 may convey a correct idea of his style and mode of preaching doctrine4 ,but there are no notes that give any true idea of his affectionate appeals to the heart and searching applications4 ,these he seldom wrote2 they were poured forth at the moment when his heart filled with his subject2 for his rule was to set before his hearers a body of truth first1--and there always was a vast amount of ,bible truth in his discourses1--and then urge home the application4 ,his exhortations flowed from his doctrine1 and thus had both variety and power4 ,he was systematic in this2 for he observed3 ,appeals to the careless1 etc41 come with power on the back of some massy truth4 ,see how ,paul does 7,acts #ac3dj71 ',beware1 therefore1 lest1' etc41 and 7,hebrews #b3a71 ',therefore we should1' etc4 ,he was sometimes a little unguarded in his statements1 when his heart was deeply moved and his feelings stirred1 and sometimes he was too long in his addresses2 but this also arose from the fulness of his soul4 ,another word1 he thought1 may be blessed1 though the last has made no impression4 ,many will remember forever the blessed ,communion ,sabbaths that were enjoyed in ,st4 ,peter's4 ,from the very first these ,communion seasons were remarkably owned of ,god4 ,the awe of his presence used to be upon his people1 and the house filled with the odor of the ointment1 when his name was poured forth 7,song #a3c74 ,but on common ,sabbaths also many soon began to journey long distances to attend ,st4 ,peter's1--many from country parishes1 who would return home with their hearts burning1 as they talked of what they had heard that day4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne knew the snare of popularity1 and naturally was one that would have been fascinated by it2 but the ,lord kept him4 ,he was sometimes extraordinarily helped in his preaching2 but at other times1 though not perceived by his hearers1 his soul felt as if left to its own resources4 ,the cry of ,rowland ,hill was constantly on his lips1 ,master1 help6 and often is it written at the close of his sermon4 ,much affliction1 also1 was a thorn in the flesh to him4 ,he described himself as often strong as a giant when in the church1 but like a willow-wand when all was over4 ,but certainly1 above all1 his abiding sense of the divine favor was his safeguard4 ,he began his ministry in ,dundee with this sunshine on his way4 ,as yet ,i have been kept not only in the light of his reconciled countenance1 but very much under the guiding eye of our providing ,god4 ,indeed1 as ,i remember good old ,swartz used to say1 ',i could not have imagined that ,he could have been so gracious to us4' ,i believe that while he had some sorer conflicts1 he had also far deeper joy after his return from ,palestine than in the early part of his ministry1 though from the very commencement of it he enjoyed that sense of the love of ,god which keeps the heart and mind4 7,phil4 #d3g47 ,this was the true secret of his holy walk1 and of his calm humility4 ,but for this1 his ambition would have become the only principle of many an action2 but now the sweeter love of ,god constrained him1 and the natural ambition of his spirit could be discerned only as suggesting to him the idea of making attempts which others would have declined4 ,what monotony there is in the ministry of many6 ,duty presses on the heels of duty in an endless circle4 ,but it is not so when the ,spirit is quickening both the pastor and his flock4 ,then there is all the variety of life4 ,it was so here4 ,the ,lord began to work by his means almost from the first day he came4 ,there was ever one and another stricken1 and going apart to weep alone4 ,the flocking of souls to his ministry1 and the deep interest excited1 drew the attention of many1 and raised the wish in some quarters to have him as their pastor4 ,he had not been many months engaged in his laborious work when he was solicited to remove to the parish of ,skirling1 near ,biggar4 ,it was an offer that presented great advantages above his own field of labor as to worldly gain1 and in respect of the prospect it held out of comparative ease and comfort2 for the parish was small and the emolument great4 ,but as it is required of a bishop1 that he be not greedy of filthy lucre1 nay1 that he be one who has no love of money 7,greek3 aphilarguros #a ,tim4 #c3c7 at all1 so was it true that in him these qualifications eminently shone4 ,his remarks in a letter to his father contain the honest expression of his feelings3 ,i am set down among nearly #djjj people2 #aajj people have taken seats in my church4 ,i bring my message1 such as it is1 within the reach of that great company every ,sabbath-day4 ,i dare not leave #cjjj or #djjj1 for #cjj people4 ,had this been offered me before1 ,i would have seen it a direct intimation from ,god1 and would heartily have embraced it4 ,how ,i should have delighted to feed so precious a little flock1--to watch over every family1--to know every heart1--'to allure to brighter worlds and lead the way6' ,but ,god has not so ordered it4 ,he has set me down among the noisy mechanics and political weavers of this godless town4 ,he will make the money sufficient4 ,he that paid his taxes from a fish's mouth1 will supply all my need4 ,he had already expressed the hope1 ,perhaps the ,lord will make his wilderness of chimney-tops to be green and beautiful as the garden of the ,lord1 a field which the ,lord hath blessed6 ,his health was delicate2 and the harassing care and endless fatigue incident to his position1 in a town like ,dundee1 seemed unsuitable to his spirit4 ,this belief led to another attempt to remove him to a country sphere4 ,in the summer of this same year 7#ahcg7 he was strongly urged to preach as a candidate for the vacant parish of ,st4 ,martin's1 near ,perth1 and assured of the appointment if he would only come forward4 ,but he declined again3 ,my ,master has placed me here with his own hand2 and ,i never will1 directly or indirectly1 seek to be removed4 ,there were circumstances in this latter case that made the call on him appear urgent in several points of view4 ,in coming to a resolution1 he mentions one interesting element in the decision1 in a letter to me1 dated ,august #hth4 ,i was much troubled about being asked to go to a neighboring parish at present vacant1 and made it a matter of prayer2 and ,i mention it now because of the wonderful answer to prayer which ,i think ,i received from ,god4 ,i prayed that in order to settle my own mind completely about staying1 ,he would awaken some of my people4 ,i agreed that that should be a sign ,he would wish me to stay4 ,the next morning ,i think1 or at least the second morning1 there came to me two young persons ,i had never seen before1 in great distress4 ,what brought this to my mind was1 that they came to me yesterday1 and their distress is greatly increased4 ,indeed ,i never saw any people in such anguish about their soul4 ,i cannot but regard this as a real answer to prayer4 ,i have also several other persons in deep distress1 and ,i feel that ,i am quite helpless in comforting them4 ,i would fain be like ,noah1 who put out his hand and took in the weary dove2 but ,god makes me stand by and feel that ,i am a child4 ,will ,god never cast the scenes of our labor near each other8 ,we are in his hand2 let ,him do as seemeth ,him good4 ,pray for me1 for my people1 for my own soul1 that ,i be not a cast away4 ,few godly pastors can be willing to change the scene of their labors1 unless it be plain that the ,cloudy ,pillar is pointing them away4 ,it is perilous for men to choose for themselves2 and too often has it happened that the minister who1 on slight grounds1 moved away from his former watch-tower1 has had reason to mourn over the disappointment of his hopes in his larger and wider sphere4 ,but while this is admitted1 probably it may appear unwarrantable in ,mr4 ,m',cheyne to have prayed for a sign of the ,lord's will4 ,it is to be observed1 however1 that he decided the point of duty on other grounds2 and it was only with the view of obtaining an additional confirmation by the occurrences of providence1 that he prayed in this manner1 in submission to the will of the ,lord4 ,he never held it right to decide the path of duty by any such signs or tokens2 he believed that the written word supplied sufficient data for guiding the believing soul2 and such providential occurrences as happened in this case he regarded as important only as far as they might be answers to prayer4 ,indeed1 he himself has left us a glance of his views on this point in a fragment1 which 7for it is not dated7 may have been written about this time4 ,he had been thinking on ,gideon's ,fleece4 ,when ,god called ,gideon forth to fight-- ,go1 save thou ,israel in thy might1-- ,the faithful warrior sought a sign ,that ,god would on his labors shine4 ,the man who1 at thy dread command1 ,lifted the shield and deadly brand4 ,to do thy strange and fearful work-- ,thy work of blood and vengeance1 ,lord6-- ,might need assurance doubly tried1 ,to prove ,thou wouldst his steps betide4 ,but when the message which we bring ,is one to make the dumb man sing2 ,to bid the blind man wash and see1 ,the lame to leap with ecstasy2 ,to raise the soul that's bowed down1 ,to wipe away the tears and frown ,to sprinkle all the heart within ,from the accusing voice of sin-- ,then1 such a sign my call to prove1 ,to preach my ,saviour's dying love1 ,i cannot1 dare not1 hope to find4 ,in the close of the same year #ahcg1 he agreed to become ,secretary to the ,association for ,church ,extension in the country of ,forfar4 ,the ,church ,extension ,scheme1 though much misrepresented and much misunderstood1 had in view as its genuine1 sincere endeavor1 to bring to overgrown parishes the advantage of a faithful minister1 placed over such a number of souls as he could really visit4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne cheerfully and diligently forwarded these objects to the utmost of his power4 ,it is the cause of ,god1 said he1 and therefore ,i am willing to spend and be spent for it4 ,it compelled him to ride much from place to place2 but riding was an exercise of which he was fond1 and which was favorable to his health4 ,as a specimen--,dec4 #d1 #ahch4 ,travelled to ,montrose4 ,spoke along with ,mr4 ,guthrie at a ,church ,extension meeting2 eight or nine hundred present4 ,tried to do something in the ,saviour's cause1 both directly and indirectly4 ,next day at ,forfar4 ,spoke in the same cause4 ,how heartily he entered into this scheme may be seen from the following extract4 ,in a letter of an after date to ,mr4 ,roxburgh1 he says3 ,every day ,i live1 ,i feel more and more persuaded that it is the cause of ,god and of his kingdom in ,scotland in our day4 ,many a time1 when ,i thought myself a dying man1 the souls of the perishing thousands in my own parish1 who never enter any house of ,god1 have lain heavy on my heart4 ,many a time have ,i prayed that the eyes of our enemies might be opened1 and that ,god would open the hearts of our rulers1 to feel that their highest duty and greatest glory is to support the ministers of ,christ1 and to send these to every perishing soul in ,scotland4 ,he felt that their misery was all the greater1 and their need the deeper1 that such neglected souls had no wish for help1 and would never ask for it themselves4 ,nor was it that he imagined that1 if churches were built and ministers endowed1 this would of itself be sufficient to reclaim the multitudes of perishing men4 ,but he sought and expected that the ,lord would send faithful men into his vineyard4 ,these new churches were to be like cisterns--ready to catch the shower when it should fall1 just as his own did in the day of the ,lord's power4 ,his views on this subject were summed up in the following lines1 written one day as he sat in company with some of his zealous brethren who were deeply engaged in the scheme3 ,give me a man of ,god the truth to preach1 ,a house of prayer within convenient reach1 ,seat-rents the poorest of the poor can pay1 ,a spot so small one pastor can survey3 ,give these--and give the ,spirit's genial shower1 ,scotland shall be a garden all in flower6 ,another public duty to which1 during all the years of his ministry1 he gave constant attention1 was attendance at the meetings of presbytery4 ,his candor1 and uprightness1 and ,christian generosity1 were felt by all his brethren2 and his opinion1 though the opinion of so young a man1 was regarded with more than common respect4 ,in regard to the great public questions that were then shaking the ,church of ,scotland1 his views were decided and unhesitating4 ,no policy1 in his view1 could be more ruinous to true ,christianity1 or more fitted to blight vital godliness1 than that of ,moderatism4 ,he wrote once to a friend in ,ireland3 ,you don't know what ,moderatism is4 ,it is a plant that our heavenly ,father never planted1 and ,i trust it is now to be rooted up4 ,the great question of the ,church's independence of the ,civil ,power in all matters spiritual1 and the right of the ,christian people to judge if the pastor appointed over them had the ,shepherd's voice1 he invariably held to be part of ,scripture truth1 which1 therefore1 must be preached and carried into practice1 at all hazards4 ,in like manner he rejoiced exceedingly in the settlements of faithful ministers4 ,the appointments of ,mr4 ,baxter to ,hilltown1 ,mr4 ,lewis to ,st4 ,david's1 and ,mr4 ,miller to ,wallacetown at a later period1 are all noticed by him with expressions of thankfulness and joy2 and it occasioned the same feelings if he heard of the destitution of any parish in any part of the country supplied4 ,he writes1 ,sept4 #bj1 #ahch3 ,present at ,a4,b4's ordination at ,collace with great joy4 ,blessed be ,god for the gift of this pastor4 ,give testimony to the word of thy grace4 ,busy at home1 he nevertheless always had a keenly evangelistic spirit4 ,he might have written much and have gained a name by his writings2 but he laid everything aside when put in comparison with preaching the everlasting gospel4 ,he scarcely ever refused an invitation to preach on a week-day2 and travelling from place to place did not interrupt his fellowship with ,god4 ,his occasional visits during these years were much blessed4 ,at ,blairgowrie and ,collace his visits were longed for as times of special refreshment2 nor was it less so at ,kirriemuir1 when he visited ,mr4 ,cormick1 or at ,abernyte in the days when ,mr4 ,hamilton 7now of ,regent ,square1 ,london71 and afterwards ,mr4 ,manson1 were laboring in that vineyard4 ,it would be difficult even to enumerate the places which he watered at ,communion seasons2 and in some of these it was testified of him1 that not the words he spoke1 but the holy manner in which he spoke1 was the chief means of arresting souls4 ,occasionally two or three of us1 whose lot was cast within convenient distance1 and whose souls panted for the same water-brooks1 used to meet together to spend a whole day in confession of ministerial and personal sins1 with prayer for grace1 guiding ourselves by the reading of the word4 ,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 day1 and there unitedly pray for the ,holy ,spirit being poured down upon the people4 ,the first time we held such a meeting1 there were tokens of blessing observed by several of us2 and the week after he wrote3 ,has there been any fruit of the happy day we spent with you8 ,i thought ,i saw some the ,sabbath after1 here4 ,in due season we shall reap if we faint not2 only be thou strong1 and of a good courage4 ,the incident that encouraged him is recorded in his diary4 ,an elderly person came to tell him how the river of joy and peace in believing had that ,sabbath most singularly flowed through her soul1 so that she blessed ,god that she ever came to ,st4 ,peter's4 ,he adds ,n4,b4--,this seems a fruit of our prayer-meeting1 begun last ,wednesday at ,collace1--one drop of the shower4 ,it should have been remarked ere now1 that during all his ministry he was careful to use not only the direct means appointed for the conversion of souls1 but those also that appear more indirect1 such as the key of discipline4 ,in regard to the ,lord's ,supper1 his little tract explains his views4 ,he believed that to keep back those whose profession was a credible profession1 even while the pastor might have strong doubts as to their fitness in his own mind1 was not the rule laid down for us in the ,new ,testament4 ,at the same time1 he as steadily maintained that no unconverted person ought to come to the ,lord's ,table2 and on this point they should judge themselves if they would not be judged4 ,when communicants came to be admitted for the first time1 or when parents that had been communicants before came for baptism to their children1 it was his custom to ask them solemnly if their souls were saved4 ,his dealing was blessed to the conversion of not a few young persons who were coming carelessly forward to the ,communion2 and himself records the blessing that attended his faithful ,healing with a parent coming to speak with him about the baptism of his child4 ,the man said that he had been taking a thought1 and believed himself in the right way--that he felt his disposition better1 for he could forgive injuries4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne showed him that nevertheless he was ignorant of ,god's righteousness4 ,the man laid it to heart2 and when ,mr4 ,m',cheyne said that he thought it would be better to defer the baptism1 at once offered to come again and speak on the matter4 ,on a subsequent visit1 he seemed really to have seen his error1 and to have cast away his own righteousness4 ,when his child was baptized1 it was joy to the pastor's heart to have the good hope that the man had received salvation4 ,in connection with the superstitious feeling of the most depraved as to baptism1 he related an affecting occurrence4 ,a careless parent one evening entered his house1 and asked him to come with him to baptize a dying child4 ,he knew that neither this man nor his wife ever entered the door of a church2 but he rose and went with him to the miserable dwelling4 ,there an infant lay1 apparently dying2 and many of the female neighbors1 equally depraved with the parents1 stood round4 ,he came forward to where the child was1 and spoke to the parents of their ungodly state and fearful guilt before ,god1 and concluded by showing them that1 in such circumstances1 he would consider it sinful in him to administer baptism to their infant4 ,they said1 ,he might at least do it for the sake of the poor child4 ,he told them that it was not baptism that saved a soul1 and that out of true concern for themselves he must not do as they wished4 ,the friends around the bed then joined the parents in upbraiding him as having no pity on the poor infant's soul6 ,he stood among them still1 and showed them that it was they who had been thus cruel to their child2 and then lifted up his voice in solemn warning1 and left the house amid their ignorant reproaches4 ,nor did he make light of the kirk-session's power to rebuke and deal with an offender4 ,once from the pulpit1 at an ordination of elders1 he gave the following testimony upon this head3 ,when ,i first entered upon the work of the ministry among you1 ,i was exceedingly ignorant of the vast importance of church discipline4 ,i thought that my great and almost only work was to pray and preach4 ,i saw your souls to be so precious1 and the time so short1 that ,i devoted all my time1 and care1 and strength1 to labor in word and doctrine4 ,when cases of discipline were brought before me and the elders1 ,i regarded them with something like abhorrence4 ,it was a duty ,i shrank from2 and ,i may truly say it nearly drove me from the work of the ministry among you altogether4 ,but it pleased ,god1 who teaches his servants in another way than man teaches1 to bless some of the cases of discipline to the manifest and undeniable conversion of the souls of those under our care2 and from that hour a new light broke in upon my mind1 and ,i saw that if preaching be an ordinance of ,christ1 so is church discipline4 ,i now feel very deeply persuaded that both are of ,god1--that two keys are committed to us by ,christ3 the one the key of doctrine1 by means of which we unlock the treasures of the ,bible2 the other the key of discipline1 by which we open or shut the way to the sealing ordinances of the faith4 ,both are ,christ's gift1 and neither is to be resigned without sin4 ,there was still another means of enforcing what he preached1 in the use of which he has excelled all his brethren1 namely1 the holy consistency of his daily walk4 ,aware that one idle word1 one needless contention1 one covetous act1 may destroy in our people the effect of many a solemn expostulation and earnest warning1 he was peculiarly circumspect in his every-day walk4 ,he wished to be always in the presence of ,god4 ,if he travelled1 he labored to enjoy ,god by the way1 as well as to do good to others by dropping a word in season4 ,in riding or walking1 he seized opportunities of giving a useful tract2 and1 on principle1 he preferred giving it to the person directly1 rather than casting it on the road4 ,the former way1 he said1 was more open--there was no stealth in it2 and we ought to be as clear as crystal in speaking or acting for ,jesus4 ,in writing a note1 however short1 he sought to season it with salt4 ,if he passed a night in a strange place1 he tried to bear the place specially on his soul at the mercy-seat2 and if compelled to take some rest from his too exhausting toils1 his recreations were little else than a change of occupation1 from one mode of glorifying ,god to another4#ab ,his beautiful hymn1 ,i am a debtor1 was written in ,may #ahcg1 at a leisure hour4 #ab ,baxter's words are not less than the truth3 ,recreation to a minister must be as whetting is with the mower1 that is1 only to be used so far as is necessary for his work4 ,may a physician in the plague-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is necessary for his life1 when so many are expecting his help in a case of life and death8 ,will you stand by and see sinners grasping under the pangs of death1 and say1 ,god doth not require me to make myself a drudge to save them8 ,is this the voice of ministerial or ,christian compassion1 or rather of sensual laziness and diabolical cruelty8--,ref4 ,past4 #f3f ,whatever be said in the pulpit1 men will not much regard1 though they may feel it at the time1 if the minister does not say the same in private with equal earnestness1 in speaking with his people face to face2 and it must be in our moments of most familiar intercourse with them1 that we are thus to put the seal to all we say in public4 ,familiar moments are the times when the things that are most closely twined round the heart are brought out to view2 and shall we forbear1 by tacit consent1 to introduce the ,lord that bought us into such happy hours8 ,we must not only speak faithfully to our people in our sermons1 but live faithfully for them too4 ,perhaps it may be found1 that the reason why many who preach the gospel fully and in all earnestness are not owned of ,god in the conversion of souls1 is to be found in their defective exhibition of grace in these easy moments of life4 ,them that honor me1 ,i will honor1 ,i ,samuel #b3cj4 ,it was noticed long ago that men will give you leave to preach against their sins as much as you will1 if so be you will but be easy with them when you have done1 and talk as they do1 and live as they live4 ,how much otherwise it was with ,mr4 ,m',cheyne1 all who knew him are witnesses4 ,his visits to friends were times when he sought to do good to their souls2 and never was he satisfied unless he could guide the conversation to bear upon the things of eternity4 ,when he could not do so1 he generally remained silent4 ,and yet his demeanor was easy and pleasant to all1 exhibiting at once meekness of faith and delicacy of feeling4 ,there was in his character a high refinement that came out in poetry and true politeness2 and there was something in his graces that reminded one of his own remark1 when explaining the spices of ,song #d3af1 when he said that some believers were a garden that had fruit-trees1 and so were useful2 but we ought also to have spices1 and so be attractive4 ,wishing to convey his grateful feelings to a fellow-laborer in ,dundee1 he sent him a ,hebrew ,bible1 with these few lines prefixed3-- ,anoint mine eyes1 ,o holy dove6 ,that ,i may prize ,this book of love4 ,unstop mine ear1 ,made deaf by sin1 ,that ,i may hear ,thy voice within4 ,break my hard heart1 ,jesus1 my ,lord2 ,in the inmost part ,hide thy sweet word4 ,it was on a similar occasion1 in #ahch1 that he wrote the lines1 ,thy word is a lamp unto my feet4 ,at another time1 sitting under a shady tree1 and casting his eye on the hospitable dwelling in which he found a pleasant retreat1 his grateful feelings flowed out to his kind friend in the lines that follow3-- ,,peace ,,to ,,this ,,house4 ,long may peace within this dwelling ,have its resting-place2 ,angel shields all harm repelling1-- ,god1 their ,god of grace4 ,may the dove-like ,spirit guide them ,to the upright land6 ,may the ,saviour-shepherd fed them ,from his gentle hand6 ,never was there one more beloved as a friend1 and seldom any whose death could cause so many to feel as if no other friend could ever occupy his room4 ,some1 too1 can say that so much did they learn from his holy walk1 that it is probable a day never passes wherein they have not some advantage from his friendship4#ac #ac ,greek3 ,eg men d katanon tou andros tn te sophian kai tn gennaiotta oute m memnsthai dynamai autou1 oute memnmenos m ouk epainein4 ,ei de tis tn arets ephiemenn phelimter tini ,skratous synegeneto ekeinon eg ton andra axiomakariototaton nomiz4 ,i find written on the leaf of one of his note-books1 a short memorandum3 ,rules worth remembering4--,when visiting in a family1 whether ministerially or otherwise1 speak particularly to the strangers about eternal things4 ,perhaps ,god has brought you together just to save that soul4 ,and then he refers to some instances which occurred to himself1 in which ,god seemed to honor a word spoken in this incidental way4 ,in this spirit he was enabled for nearly three years to give his strength to his ,master's service4 ,sickness sometimes laid him aside1 and taught him what he had to suffer2 but he rose from it to go forth again to his joyful labors4 ,often1 after a toilsome day1 there were inquirers waiting for him1 so that he had to begin work afresh in a new form4 ,but this was his delight2 it was a kind of interruption which he allowed even on a ,saturday1 in the midst of his studies4 ,he was led to resolve not to postpone any inquirers till a future time1 by finding that having done so on one occasion at a pressing moment1 the individuals never returned2 and so alive was he to the responsibilities of his office1 that he ever after feared to lose such an opportunity of speaking with souls at a time when they were aroused to concern4 ,busy one evening with some extra-parochial work1 he was asked if any person should be admitted to see him that night4 ,surely--what do we live for8 was his immediate reply4 ,it was his manner1 too1 on a ,saturday afternoon1 to visit one or two of his sick who seemed near the point of death1 with the view of being thus stirred up to a more direct application of the truth to his flock on the morrow1 as dying men on the edge of eternity4 ,we have already observed that in his doctrine there was nothing that differed from the views of truth laid down in the standards of our church4 ,he saw no inconsistency in preaching an electing ,god1 who calleth whom ,he will1 and a salvation free to whosoever will2 nor in declaring the absolute sovereignty of ,god1 and yet the unimpaired responsibility of man4 ,he preached ,christ as a gift laid down by the ,father for every sinner freely to take4 ,in the beginning of his ministry1 as he preached the fulness of the glad tidings1 and urged on his people that there was enough in the glad tidings to bring direct and immediate assurance to every one who really believed them1 some of his flock were startled4 ,for he ever preached1 that1 while it is true that there are believers1 like ,heman or ,asaph1 who do not enjoy full assurance of the love of ,god1 yet certainly no true believer should remain satisfied in the absence of this blessed peace4 ,not a few had hitherto been accustomed to take for granted that they might be ,christians1 though they knew of no change1 and had never thought of enjoying the knowledge of the love of ,god as their present portion4 ,they heard that others1 who were reckoned believers1 had doubts2 so they had come to consider fears and doubts as the very marks of a believing soul4 ,the consequence had been1 that in past days many concluded themselves to be ,christians because they seemed to be in the very state of mind of which those who were reputed to be believers spoke1 viz4 doubt and alarm4 ,alas6 in their case there could be nothing else1 for they had only a name to live4 ,some one wrote to him1 putting several questions concerning conversion1 assurance1 and faith1 which had been stirred up by his ministry4 ,the import of the questions may be gathered from his reply1 which was as follows3-- #a4 ,i doubt if there are many saints who live and die without a comfortable sense of forgiveness and acceptance with ,god4 ,the saints of whom the ,bible speaks seem to have enjoyed it richly both in life and death4 ,see the murderers of our ,lord1 ,acts #b3da2 the ,ethiopian1 ,acts #h3ci2 the jailor1 ,acts #af3ce4 ,david also felt it1 sinful man though he was1 ,romans #d3f4 ,paul also prayed that the ,romans might have it1 ,romans #ae3ac4 ,i fear this objection is generally made by those who are living in sin1 and do not wish to know the dangerous road they are on4 #b4 ,a sense of forgiveness does not proceed from marks seen in yourself1 but from a discovery of the beauty1 worth1 and freeness of ,christ1 ,psalm #cd3e4 ,we look out for peace1 not in4 ,at the same time1 there is also an assurance rising from what we see in ourselves2 the seal of the ,spirit1 love to the brethren1 etc41 are the chief marks4 #c4 ,feeling a body of sin is a mark that we are like ,paul1 and that we are ,christ's1 ,rom4 #g2 ,gal4 #e3ag4 ,paul was cheerful with a body of sin2 and so ought we to be4 ,so was ,david1 and all the saints4 #d4 ,i do not think there is any difference between those converted within these few years and those who were ,christians before4 ,many of those converted since ,i came are1 ,i fear1 very unholy4 ,i fear this more than anything4 ,i fear there is too much talk and too little reality4 ,still there are many good figs1--many of whom ,i am persuaded better things1 and things that accompany salvation4 ,the answer to your question ,i fear is this1 that many used to be taken for ,christians before1 who had only a name to live1 and were dead4 ,i think there is more discrimination now4 ,but take care and be not proud1 for that goes before a fall4 ,take care of censorious judging of others1 as if all must be converted in the same way4 ,god moves in a mysterious way4 ,he hath mercy on whom ,he will have mercy4 ,to ,him alone be glory4 ,he thus stated his views on another occasion4 ,referring to ,song #f3c1 ,my beloved is mine1 following ,my beloved is gone down into his garden1 he said1 ,this is the faith of assurance1--a complete1 unhesitating embracing of ,christ as my righteousness and my strength and my all4 ,a common mistake is1 that this clear conviction that ,christ is mine is an attainment far on in the divine life1 and that it springs from evidences seen in my heart4 ,when ,i see myself a new creature1 ,christ on the throne in my heart1 love to the brethren1 etc41 it is often thought that ,i may begin then to say1 ',my ,beloved is mine4' ,how different this passage6 ,the moment ,jesus comes down into the garden to the beds of spices1--the moment ,he reveals himself1 the soul cries out1 ',my ,beloved is mine6' ,so saith ,thomas1 ,john #bj3bg1 #bh4 ,the moment ,jesus came in and revealed his wounds1 ,thomas cried out1 ',my ,lord and my ,god4' ,he did not look to see if he was believing1 or if the graces of love and humility were reigning2 but all he saw and thought of was ,jesus and ,him crucified and risen4 ,at a subsequent period1 when preaching on ,matt4 #aa3bh1 ,come unto me1 he said1 ,i suppose it is almost impossible to explain what it is to come to ,jesus1 it is so simple4 ,if you ask a sick person who had been healed1 what it was to come and be healed1 he could hardly tell you4 ,as far as the ,lord has given me light in this matter1 and looking at what my own heart does in like circumstances1 ,i do not feel that there is anything more in coming to ,jesus1 than just believing what ,god says about his ,son to be true4 ,i believe that many people keep themselves in darkness by expecting something more than this4 ,some of you will ask1 ',is there no appropriating of ,christ8 no putting out the hand of faith8 no touching the hem of his garment8' ,i quite grant1 beloved1 there is such a thing1 but ,i do think it is inseparable from believing the record4 ,if the ,lord persuades you of the glory and power of ,emmanuel1 ,i feel persuaded that you cannot but choose ,him4 ,it is like opening the shutters of a dark room2 the sun that moment shines in4 ,so1 the eye that is opened to the testimony of ,god1 receives ,christ that moment4 ,in the case of a faithful ministry1 success is the rule2 want of it the exception4 ,for it is written3 ,in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee1 ,i ,tim4 #d3af4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne expected it1 and the ,lord exceeded all his hopes4 ,it was not yet common for persons in anxiety to go to their pastor for advice2 but soon it became an almost weekly occurrence4 ,while it was yet rare1 two of his young people wrote a joint note1 asking liberty to come and speak with him1 for we are anxious about our souls4 ,among those who came1 there were those who had striven against the truth2 persons who used to run out of hearing when the ,bible was read1--throw down a tract if the name of ,god was in it1--go quickly to sleep after a ,sabbath's pleasure in order to drown the fear of dropping into hell4 ,there were many whose whole previous life had been but a threadbare profession4 ,there were some open sinners1 too4 ,in short1 the ,lord glorified himself by the variety of those whom his grace subdued1 and the variety of means by which his grace reached its object4 ,one could tell him that the reading of the chapter in the church1 with a few remarks1 had been the time of her awakening4 ,another had been struck to the heart by some expression he used in his first prayer before sermon one ,sabbath morning4 ,but most were arrested in the preaching of the word4 ,an interesting case was that of one who was aroused to concern during his sermon on ,unto whom coming as unto a living stone4 ,as he spoke of the ,father taking the gem out of his bosom1 and laying it down for a foundation-stone1 she felt in her soul1 ,i know nothing of this precious stone2 ,i am surely not converted4 ,this led her to come and speak with him4 ,she was not under deep conviction2 but before going away1 he said1 ,you are a poor1 vile worm2 it is a wonder the earth does not open and swallow you up4 ,these words were blessed to produce a very awful sense of sin4 ,she came a second time with the arrows of the ,almighty drinking up her spirit4 ,for three months she remained in this state1 till having once more come to him for counsel1 the living voice of ,jesus gave life to her soul while he was speaking of ,christ's words1 ,if thou knewest the gift of ,god1 etc41 and she went away rejoicing4 ,some awakened souls told him that since they were brought under concern1 very many sermons1 which they had heard from him before and completely forgotten1 had been brought back to mind4 ,he used to remark that this might show what the resurrection day would awaken in the souls of gospel hearers4 ,in dealing with souls he used to speak very plainly4 ,one came to him who assented to his statements of the gospel1 and yet refused to be comforted1 always looking upon coming to ,christ as something in addition to really believing the record ,god has given of his ,son4 ,he took ,john #c3af1 #ag3 ,for ,god so loved the world1 that1 etc4 ,the woman said that ,god did not care for her4 ,upon this he at once convicted her of making ,god a liar2 and1 as she went away in deep distress1 his prayer was1 ,lord1 give her light6 ,to another person1 who spoke of having times of great joy1 he showed that these were times for worshipping ,god in the spirit4 ,you would come to a king when you were full dressed2 so come to ,god1 and abide in his presence as long as you can4 ,sometimes he would send away souls1 of whom he entertained good hope1 with a text suited to their state4 ,if ye live after the flesh1 ye shall die2 but if ye1 through the ,spirit1 do mortify the deeds of the body1 ye shall live4 ,or he would say1 ,i hear of you that ,god has opened your heart2 but remember not to trust to man's opinion4 ,remember an all-seeing ,christ will be the judge at the great day4 ,to another he said1 ,i have long hoped you were really under the wings of the ,saviour2 if it be so1 abide there2 do not be like ,demas4 ,to a prayer-meeting1 consisting of a few young men that had been awakened to flee from wrath1 he gave this advice3 ,guard against all ambition to excel one another in expression4 ,remember the most spiritual prayer is 'a groan which cannot be uttered1' ,rom4 #h3bf2 or a cry of ',abba1 ,father1' ,gal4 #d3f4 ,there is very little recorded in his diary during these years1 but what does exist will be read with deepest interest4 ,march #bh1 #ahch1 ,thursday4--,i think of making this more a journal of my people1 and the success or otherwise of my ministry4 ,the first success among my people was at the time of my first ,sacrament3 then it appeared4 ,my first sermon1 on ,isa4 #fa3a1 was blessed to ---- and some others4 ,that on ,ezek4 #bb3ad1 ',can thine heart endure1' etc41 was blessed to awaken ,m4,l4 ,that on ,song #e3b1 ',open to me1' etc41 the ,sabbath after the ,sacrament1 was blessed to another4 ,these were happy days4 ,m4,d4 was awakened by coming to the communicants' class4 ,another by the action sermon4 ,at the words1 ',i know thee1 ,judas1' she trembled1 and would have risen from the table4 ,these were glad days when one and another were awakened4 ,the people looked very stirred and anxious1 every day coming to hear the words of eternal life1--some inquiring in private every week4 ,now there is little of this4 ,about fifteen cases came to my knowledge the first ,sacrament1 and two awakened who seem to have gone back4 ,about eleven last ,sacrament1--four of these young men4 ,several ,christians seemed quickened to greater joy1 and greater love one to another4 ,now it appears to me there is much falling off1--few seem awakened2 few weep as they used to do4 ,april #a1 ,sacrament day4--,sweet season we have had4 ,never was more straitened and unfurnished in myself1 and yet much helped4 ,kept in perfect peace1 my mind being stayed on ,thee4 ,preached on ',my ,god1 my ,god1' etc41 ,psalm #bb3a4 ,not fully prepared1 yet found some peace in it4 ,fenced the tables from ',christ's eyes of flame4' ,little helped in serving the tables4 ,much peace in communion4 ,happy to be one with ,christ6 ,i1 a vile worm2 ,he1 the ,lord my righteousness4 ,mr4 ,cumming of ,dumbarney served some tables2 ,mr4 ,somerville of ,anderston served three1 and preached in the evening on ',thou art all fair1 my love4' ,very full and refreshing4 ,all sweet1 sweet services4 ,come1 thou north wind1 and blow1 thou south1 upon this garden6 ,may this time be greatly blessed6 ,it is my third communion2 it may be my last4 ,my ,lord may come1 or ,i may be sitting at another table soon4 ,moody1 ,candlish1 and ,mellis1 were a good preparation for this day2 and the sweet word from ,cumming yesterday1 ',when the poor and needy seek water1' etc4 ,lord1 grant some wakening this day1--to some bringing peace--comfort to mourners1--fulness to believers1--an advance in holiness in me and my children6 ,,iii ,john #d4 ,lord1 wean me from my sins1 from my cares1 and from this passing world4 ,may ,christ be all in all to me4 ,admitted about twenty-five young communicants2 kept two back1 and one or two stayed back4 ,some of them evidently brought to ,christ4 ,may the ,lord be their ,god1 their comforter1 their all6 ,may the morrow bring still richer things to us1 that we may say as of to-night1 ',thou hast kept the good wine until now4' ,toward the close of this same year some of his notices are as follows3-- ,oct4 #g1 ,evening4--,in the ,gaelic ,chapel1 on ',i know that my ,redeemer liveth1' with more seeming power on the people than for a while4 ,i never remember of compelling souls to come in to ,christ so much as in that discourse4 ,oct4 #h4--;,a person of the name of ---- came2 ,i hope really awakened by last night's work2 rather1 by ,thee4 ,i do not know1 however1 whether grace is begun or not4 ,oct4 #ad4--,preached on ',forgiving injuries4' ,afternoon--on the ,second ,coming3 ',let your loins be girded about1' etc4 ,felt its power myself more than ever before1 how the sudden coming of the ,saviour constrains to a holy walk1 separate from sin4 ,evening--,preached it over in the ,ferry4 ,oct4 #ba4--,met young communicants in the evening4 ,good hope of all but one4 ,oct4 #bb4--;,a ,jew preached in my church1 ,mr4 ,frey1 to a crowded house4 ,felt much moved in hearing an ,israelite after the flesh4 ,oct4 #bc4--,preached to sailors aboard the ',dr4 ,carey1' in the docks4 ,about #bjj1 very attentive and impressed like4 ,on ',i know that my ,redeemer liveth4' ,may the seed sown on the waters be found after many days4 ,nov4 #a1 ,fast-day4--,afternoon--,mr4 ,c4 on ',the thief on the ,cross4' ,a most awakening and engaging sermon1 enough to make sinners fly like a cloud1 and as doves to their windows4 ,the offers of ,christ were let down very low so that those low of stature may take hold4 ,nov4 #e4--,mr4 ---- died this morning at seven o'clock4 ,oh that ,i may take warning1 lest1 after preaching to others1 ,i myself be a castaway6 ,love of popularity is said to have been his besetting sin4 ,dec4 #b4--;,errol ,communion4 ,heard ,mr4 ,grierson preach on ,christ's entry into ,jerusalem4 ,served two tables4 ,evening--,preached to a large congregation1 on ',unto you1 ,o men1 ,i call1' etc4 ,the free invitation of the ,saviour4 ,may some find ,him this day6 ,in addition to the other blessings which the ,lord sent by his means to the place where he labored1 it was obvious to all that the tone of ,christians was raised as much by his holy walk as by his heavenly ministry4 ,yet during these pleasant days he had much reproach to bear4 ,he was the object of supercilious contempt to formal cold-hearted ministers1 and of bitter hatred to many of the ungodly4 ,at this day there are both ministers and professing ,christians of whom ,jesus would say1 ,the world cannot hate you 7,john #g3g71 for the world cannot hate itself2 but it was not so with ,mr4 ,m',cheyne4 ,very deep was the enmity borne to him by some1--all the deeper1 because the only cause of it was his likeness to his ,master4 ,but nothing turned him aside4 ,he was full of ardor1 yet ever gentle1 and meek1 and generous2 full of zeal1 yet never ruffled by his zeal2 and not only his strength of first love 7,rev4 #b3d71 but even its warm glow1 seemed in him to suffer no decay4 ,thus he spent the first years of his ministry in ,dundee4 ,the town began to feel that they had a peculiar man of ,god in the midst of them1 for he lived as a true son of ,levi4 ,my covenant was with him of life and peace1 and ,i gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me1 and was afraid before my name4 ,the law of truth was in his mouth1 and iniquity was not found on his lips2 he walked with me in peace and equity2 and did turn many away from iniquity4 ,mal4 #b3e1 #f4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,his ,,mission ,,to ,,palestine ,,and ,,the ,,jews4 ,here am ,i2 send me--,isaiah #f3h4 ,though engaged night and day with his flock in ,st4 ,peter's1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne ever cherished a missionary spirit4 ,this place hardens me for a foreign land1 was his remark on one occasion4 ,this spirit he sought to kindle yet more by reading missionary intelligence for his own use1 and often to his people at his weekly prayer-meeting4 ,the necessities both of his own parish1 and of the world at large1 lay heavy on his soul2 and when an opportunity of evangelizing occurred1 there was none in ,scotland more ready to embrace it4 ,he seemed one who stood with his loins girt3 ,here am ,i2 send me4 ,another motive to incessant activity1 was the decided impression on his mind that his career would be short4 ,from the very first days of his ministry he had a strong feeling of this nature2 and his friends remember how his letters used to be sealed with this seal1 ,the night cometh ,at a time when he was apparently in his usual health1 we were talking together on the subject of the ,pre-millennial ,advent4 ,we had begun to speak of the practical influence which the belief of that doctrine might have4 ,at length he said1 ,that he saw no force in the arguments generally urged against it1 though he had difficulties of his own in regard to it4 ,and perhaps 7he added7 it is well for you1 who enjoy constant health1 to be so firmly persuaded that ,christ is thus to come2 but my sickly frame makes me feel every day that my time may be very short4 ,he was therefore in some measure prepared1 when1 in the midst of his laborious duties1 he was compelled to stand still and see what the ,lord would do4 ,in the close of #ahch1 some symptoms appeared that alarmed his friends4 ,his constitution1 never robust1 began to feel the effects of unremitting labor2 for occasionally he would spend six hours in visiting1 and then the same evening preach in some room to all the families whom he had that day visited4 ,very generally1 too1 on ,sabbath1 after preaching twice to his own flock1 he was engaged in ministering somewhere else in the evening4 ,but now1 after any great exertion1 he was attacked by violent palpitation of heart4 ,it soon increased1 affecting him in his hours of study2 and at last it became almost constant4 ,upon this1 his medical advisers insisted on a total cessation of his public work2 for though as yet there was no organic change on his lungs1 there was every reason to apprehend that that might be the result4 ,accordingly1 with deep regret1 he left ,dundee to seek rest and change of occupation1 hoping it would be only for a week or two4 ,a few days after leaving ,dundee1 he writes from ,edinburgh1 in reply to the anxious inquiries of his friend ,mr4 ,grierson3 ,the beating of the heart is not now so constant as it was before4 ,the pitcher draws more quietly at the cistern2 so that1 by the kind providence of our heavenly ,father1 ,i may be spared a little longer before the silver cord be loosed1 and the golden bowl be broken4 ,it was found that his complaints were such as would be likely to give way under careful treatment1 and a temporary cessation from all exertion4 ,under his father's roof1 therefore1 in ,edinburgh1 he resigned himself to the will of his ,father in heaven4 ,but deeply did he feel the trial of being laid aside from his loved employment1 though he learned of ,him who was meek and lowly1 to make the burden light in his own way1 by saying1 ,even so1 ,father1 for so it seemeth good in thy sight4 ,he wrote to ,mr4 ,grierson again1 ,january #e1 #ahci3 ,i hope this affliction will be blessed to me4 ,i always feel much need of ,god's afflicting hand4 ,in the whirl of active labor there is so little time for watching1 and for bewailing1 and seeking grace to oppose the sins of our ministry1 that ,i always feel it a blessed thing when the ,saviour takes me aside from the crowd1 as ,he took the blind man out of the town1 and removes the veil1 and clears away obscuring mists1 and by his word and ,spirit leads to deeper peace and a holier walk4 ,ah6 there is nothing like a calm look into the eternal world to teach us the emptiness of human praise1 the sinfulness of self-seeking and vainglory1 to teach us the preciousness of ,christ1 who is called ',the ,tried ,stone4' ,i have been able to be twice at college to hear a lecture from ,dr4 ,chalmers4 ,i have also been privileged to smooth down the dying pillow of an old school-companion1 leading him to a fuller joy and peace in believing4 ,a poor heavy-laden soul1 too1 from ,larbert1 ,i have had the joy of leading toward the ,saviour4 ,so that even when absent from my work1 and when exiled1 as it were1 ,god allows me to do some little things for his name4 ,he was led to look more carefully into this trying dispensation1 and began to anticipate blessed results from it to his flock4 ,he was well aware how easily the flock begin to idolize the shepherd1 and how prone the shepherd is to feel somewhat pleased with this sinful partiality of his people1 and to be uplifted by his success4 ,i sometimes think1 is his remark in a letter1 dated ,january #ah1 that a great blessing may come to my people in my absence4 ,often ,god does not bless us when we are in the midst of our labors1 lest we shall say1 ',my hand and my eloquence have done it4' ,he removes us into silence1 and then pours 'down a blessing so that there is no room to receive it2' so that all that see it cry out1 ',it is the ,lord6' ,this was the way in the ,south ,sea ,islands4 ,may it really be so with my dear people6 ,nor did he err in this view of the dispensation4 ,all these ends1 and more also1 were to be accomplished by it4 ,an anticipation like that which is expressed in this and other letters1 especially in his ,pastoral ,letter of ,march #bj1 may justly be regarded as a proof from experience that the ,lord teaches his people to expect and pray for what ,he means soon to work4 ,and here the ,lord accomplished his designs in the kindest of all ways2 for ,he removed his servant for a season from the flock to which he had been so blessed1 lest even his own children should begin to glory in man2 but yet ,he took that servant to another sphere of labor in the meantime1 and then1 when the blessing was safely bestowed1 brought him back to rejoice over it4 ,he was still hoping for1 and submissively asking from the ,lord1 speedy restoration to his people in ,dundee1 and occasionally sending to them an epistle that breathed the true pastor's soul2 when one day1 as he was walking with ,dr4 ,candlish1 conversing on the ,mission to ,israel which had lately been resolved on1 an idea seemed suddenly suggested to ,dr4 ,candlish4 ,he asked ,mr4 ,m',cheyne what he would think of being useful to the ,jewish cause1 during his cessation from labor1 by going abroad to make personal inquiries into the state of ,israel8 ,the idea thus suddenly suggested led to all the after results of the ,mission of ,inquiry4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne found himself all at once called to carry salvation to the ,jew as he had hitherto done to the ,gentile1 and his soul was filled with joy and wonder4 ,his medical friends highly approved of the proposal1 as being likely to conduce very much to the removal of his complaints1--the calm1 steady excitement of such a journey being likely to restore the tone of his whole constitution4 ,dr4 ,black of ,aberdeen readily consented to use his remarkable talents as a scholar in this cause2 and ,dr4 ,keith intimated his expectation of soon joining the deputation4 ,i also had been chosen to go forth on this mission of love to ,israel2 but some difficulties stood in the way of my leaving my charge at ,collace4 ,in these circumstances ,mr4 ,m',cheyne wrote to me1 ,march #ab1 from ,edinburgh4 ,,my ,,dear ,a41--,i have received so many tokens for good from ,god in this matter1 that it were a shame indeed if ,i did not trust ,him to perfect all which concerns me4 ,i am glad you have determined to trust all in the hands of ,israel's ,god4 ,i am quite ready to go this week1 or next week1 but am deeply anxious to be sure that you are sent with me4 ,you know1 dear ,a41 ,i could not labor in this cause1 nor enjoy it1 if you were not to be with me in it4 ,would you be ready to give your ,jewish lecture on the evening of ,sabbath week8444 ,and now1 pray for us1 that we may be sent of ,god2 and1 weak as we are1 that we may be made ,boanerges1--that we may be blessed to win some souls1 and to stir up ,christians to love ,zion4 ,much interest is already excited1 and ,i do look for a blessing4 ,speak to your people as on the brink of eternity4444 ,as to books1 ,i am quite at a loss4 ,my ,hebrew ,bible1 ,greek ,testament1 etc41 and perhaps ,bridge's ,christian ,ministry for general purposes--,i mean1 for keeping us in mind of our ministerial work4 ,i do hope we shall go forth in the ,spirit2 and though straitened in language1 may we not be blessed1 as ,brainerd was1 through an interpreter8 ,may we not be blessed also to save some ,english1 and to stir up missionaries8 ,my health is only tolerable2 ,i would be better if we were once away4 ,i am often so troubled as to be made willing to go or stay1 to die or to live4 ,yet it is encouraging to be used in the ,lord's service again1 and in so interesting a manner4 ,what if we should see the heavenly ,jerusalem before the earthly8 ,i am taking drawing materials1 that ,i may carry away remembrances of the ,mount of ,olives1 ,tabor1 and the ,sea of ,galilee4 ,the interest that this proposed journey excited in ,scotland was very great4 ,nor was it merely the somewhat romantic interest attached to the land where the ,lord had done most of his mighty works2 there were also in it the deeper feelings of a scriptural persuasion that ,israel was still beloved for the fathers' sake4 ,for some time previous1 ,jerusalem had come into mind1 and many godly pastors were alarming as watchmen over its ruined walls 7,isa4 #fb3f71 stirring up the ,lord's remembrancers4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne had been one of these4 ,his views of the importance of the ,jews in the eye of ,god1 and therefore of their importance as a sphere of missionary labor1 were very clear and decided4 ,he agreed in the expectation expressed in one of the ,course of ,lectures delivered before the deputation set out1 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 ,gentile4 ,in one letter he says1 ,to seek the lost sheep of the house of ,israel is an object very near to my heart1 as my people know it has ever been4 ,such an enterprise may probably draw down unspeakable blessings on the ,church of ,scotland1 according to the promise1 ',they shall prosper who love thee4' ,in another1 ,i now see plainly that all our views about the ,jews being the chief object of missionary exertion are plain and sober truths1 according to the ,scripture4 ,again1 ,i feel convinced that if we pray that the world may be converted in ,god's way1 we will seek the good of the ,jews2 and the more we do so1 the happier we will be in our own soul4 ,you should always keep up a knowledge of the prophecies regarding ,israel4 ,in his preaching he not unfrequently said on this subject1 ,we should be like ,god in his peculiar affections2 and the whole ,bible shows that ,god has ever had1 and still has1 a peculiar love to the ,jews4 ,the news of his proposed absence alarmed his flock at ,dundee4 ,they manifested their care for him more than ever2 and not a few wrote expostulatory letters4 ,to one of these well-meant remonstrances he replied1 ,i rejoice exceedingly in the interest you take in me1 not so much for my own sake as that ,i hope it is a sign you know and love the ,lord ,jesus4 ,unless ,god had himself shut up the door of return to my people1 and opened this new door to me1 ,i never could have consented to go4 ,i am not at all unwilling to spend and be spent in ,god's service1 though ,i have often found that the more abundantly ,i love you1 the less ,i am loved4 ,but ,god has very plainly shown me that ,i may perform a deeply important work for his ancient people1 and at the same time be in the best way of seeking a return of health4--,a minister will make a poor saviour in the day of wrath4 ,it is not knowing a minister1 or loving one1 or hearing one1 or having a name to live1 that will save4 ,you need to have your hand on the head of the ,lamb for yourselves1 ,lev4 #a3d4 ,you need to have your eye on the brazen serpent for yourselves1 ,john #c3ad1 #ae4 ,i fear ,i will need to be a swift witness against many of my people in the day of the ,lord1 that they looked to me1 and not to ,christ1 when ,i preached to them4 ,i always feared that some of you loved to hear the word1 who do not love to do it4 ,i always feared there were many of you who loved the ,sabbath meetings1 and the class1 and the ,thursday evenings1 who yet were not careful to walk with ,god1 to be meek1 chaste1 holy1 loving1 harmless1 ,christ-like1 ,god-like4 ,now1 ,god wants you to think that the only end of a gospel ministry is that you may be holy4 ,believe me1 ,god himself could not make you happy except you be holy4 ,at this crisis in his people's history1 he sought from the ,lord one to supply his place1--one who would feed the flock and gather in wanderers during their own pastor's absence4 ,the ,lord granted him his desire by sending ,mr4 ,william ,c4 ,burns1 son of the minister of ,kilsyth4 ,in a letter to him1 dated ,march #ab1 the following remarkable words occur3 ,you are given in answer to prayer2 and these gifts are1 ,i believe1 always without exception blessed4 ,i hope you may be a thousand times more blessed among them than ever ,i was4 ,perhaps there are many souls that would never have been saved under my ministry1 who may be touched under yours2 and ,god has taken this method of bringing you into my place4 ,his name is ,wonderful4 ,this done1 and being already disengaged from his flock1 he set out for ,london to make arrangements for the rest of the deputation1 who soon after were all sent forth by the brethren with many prayers4 ,none had more prayers offered in their behalf than he1 and they were not offered in vain4 ,during all his journeyings the ,lord strengthened him1 and saved him out of all distresses4 ,it was a singular event1--often still it looks like a dream1--that four ministers should be so suddenly called away from their quiet labors in the towns and villages of ,scotland1 and be found in a few weeks traversing the land of ,israel1 with their ,bibles in their hand1 eye-witnesses of prophecy fulfilled1 and spies of the nakedness of ,israel's worship and leanness of soul4 ,the details of that journey need not be given here4 ,they have been already recorded in the ,narrative of a ,mission of ,inquiry to the ,jews from the ,church of ,scotland in #ahci4 ,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 in4 ,when ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was on board the vessel that carried him to ,london1 he at once discovered an interesting young ,jew1 who seemed1 however1 unwilling to be recognized as belonging to the seed of ,abraham4 ,he made several attempts to draw this young ,israelite into close conversation2 and before parting1 read with him the #ast ,psalm in ,hebrew1 and pressed home the duty of meditating on the word of the ,lord4 ,in visiting ,bethnal ,green1 he has noted down that it was very sweet to hear ,jewish children sing a hymn to ,jesus1 the burden of which was ,hebrew3 tavuach aleinu1 ,slain for us6 ,the awful profanation of the holy ,sabbath which we witnessed on the streets of ,paris1 called forth the following appeal1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,macdonald of ,blairgowrie4 ,his spirit had been stirred in him when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry4 ,stand in the breach1 dear friend1 and lift up your voice like a trumpet1 lest ,scotland become another ,france4 ,you know how many in our own parishes trample on the holy day4 ,they do not know how sweet it is to walk with ,god all that holy day4 ,isaiah #eh3aa-ad is a sweet text to preach from4 ,exodus #ca3ac is also very precious1 showing that the real sanctifying of the ,sabbath is one of ,god's signs or marks which ,he puts upon his people4 ,it is one of the letters of the new name1 which no one knoweth but they who receive it4 ,in his brief notes during the first part of the journey1 he has seldom failed to mark our seasons of united prayer1 such as those in the cabin of the vessel on the passage to ,genoa2 for these were times of refreshing to his spirit4 ,and his feelings1 as he stood in that city and surveyed its palaces1 are expressed in a few lines1 which he sent homeward from the spot4 ,a foreign land draws us nearer ,god4 ,he is the only one whom we know here4 ,we go to ,him as to one we know2 all else is strange4 ,every step ,i take1 and every new country ,i see1 makes me feel more that there is nothing real1 nothing true1 but what is everlasting4 ,the whole world lieth in wickedness6 its judgments are fast hastening4 ,the marble palaces1 among which ,i have been wandering to-night1 shall soon sink like a millstone in the waters of ,god's righteous anger2 but he that doeth the will of ,god abideth forever4 ,at ,valetta1 in the island of ,malta1 he wrote3 ,my heart beats a little to-day1 but another sail will do me good4 ,one thing ,i know1 that ,i am in the hands of my ,father in heaven1 who is all love to me1--not for what ,i am in myself1 but for the beauty ,he sees in ,immanuel4 ,the classic shores of ,italy and ,greece are invested with a peculiar interest1 such as may raise deep emotions even in a sanctified soul4 ,we tried to recollect many of the studies of our boyhood4 ,but what is classic learning to us now8 ,i count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus my ,lord4 ,and yet these recollections tinged every object1 and afforded us a most lawful pleasure4 ,during our voyage1 it was his delight to search into the ,scriptures1 just as at home4 ,and so much did he calculate on an unceasing study of the word during all our journey1 that he took with him some notes ,i had written on each chapter of the book of ,leviticus1 observing it would be suitable meditation for us while busy with ,jewish minds4 ,at home and abroad he had an insatiable appetite for all the word1--both for the types of the ,old ,testament and the plain text of the ,new4 ,on one occasion1 before leaving home1 in studying ,numbers #d41 he fixed the different duties assigned to the priests on his memory1 by means of the following lines3-- ,the ,kohathites upon their shoulder bear ,the holy vessels1 covered with all care1 ,the ,gershonites receive an easier charge1 ,two waggons full of cords and curtains large2 ,merari's sons four ponderous waggons load ,with boards and pillars of the house of ,god4 ,he acted on the principle1 that whatever ,god has revealed must deserve our study and prayerful investigation4 ,arrived at ,alexandria in ,egypt1 and thence proceeding onward to ,palestine by the way of the desert1 we found ourselves set down on a new stage of experience4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne observed on the silence of the desert places3 ,it is a remarkable feeling to be quite alone in a desert place2 it gives similar feelings to fasting2 it brings ,god near4 ,living in tents1 and moving among such lonely scenes for many days1 awake many new ideas4 ,it is a strange life we lead in the wilderness4 ,round and round there is a complete circle of sand and wilderness shrubs2 above1 a blue sky without a cloud1 and a scorching sun which often made the thermometer stand at #if in our tents4 ,when evening came1 the sun went down as it does in the ocean1 and the stars came riding forth in their glory2 and we used to pitch all alone1 with none but our poor ignorant ,bedouins1 and their camels1 and our all-knowing1 all-loving ,god beside us4 ,when morning began to dawn1 our habitations were taken down4 ,often we have found ourselves shelterless before being fully dressed4 ,what a type of the tent of our body6 ,ah6 how often taken down before the soul is made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light4 ,to ,mr4 ,bonar of ,larbert he writes3 ,i had no idea that travelling in the wilderness was so dreadful a thing as it is4 ,the loneliness ,i often felt quite solemnized me4 ,the burning sun overhead1--round and round a circle of barren sand1 chequered only by a few prickly shrubs 7'the heat of the wilderness1' of which ,jeremiah speaks71 no rain1 not a cloud1 the wells often like that of ,marah1 and far between4 ,i now understand well the murmurings of ,israel4 ,i feel that our journey proved and tried my own heart very much4 ,when we look back1 and remember that he who thus stands on the sandy desert road between ,egypt and ,palestine1 and looks on its singular scenery1 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 a town teeming with population1 we are led to wonder at the ways of the ,lord4 ,but is it not a moment which may remind us that the ,god who sent ,elijah to the brook at ,cherith is the same ,god still8 and that the wise1 considerate1 loving ,master1 who said1 ,come into a desert place and rest awhile1 is as loving1 considerate1 and wise as ,he was then8 ,at ,balteen1 a small village in ,egypt1 ,i well remember the indignation that fired his countenance1 when our ,arab attendants insisted on travelling forward on the ,sabbath-day1 rather than continue sitting under a few palm-trees1 breathing a sultry1 furnace-like atmosphere1 with nothing more than just such supply of food as sufficed4 ,he could not bear the thought of being deprived of the ,sabbath rest2 it was needful for our souls as much in the wilderness as in the crowded city2 and if few glorify ,god in that desolate land1 so much the more were we called on to fill these solitudes with our songs of praise4 ,it was in this light he viewed our position2 and when we had prevailed1 and were seated under the palms1 he was excited to deep emotion1 though before quite unnerved by the heat1 at the sight of a row of poor wretched ,egyptians who gathered round us4 ,oh that ,i could speak their language1 and tell them of salvation6 was his impassioned wish4 ,an event occurred at that time in which the hand of ,god afterwards appeared very plain1 though it then seemed very dark to us4 ,dr4 ,black fell from his camel in the midst of the sandy desert1 and none of all our company could conjecture what bearing on the object of our ,mission this sad occurrence could have4 ,is it a frown on our undertaking8 or can it really be a movement of his kind1 guiding hand8 ,we often spoke of it3 in our visit to ,galilee we thought that we saw some purposes evolving2 but there was still something unexplained4 ,now1 however1 the reason appears3 even that event was of the ,lord1 in wise and kind design4 ,but for that fall1 our fathers in the deputation would not have sailed up the ,danube on their way to ,vienna1 and ,pesth would not have been visited4 ,this accident1 which mainly disabled ,dr4 ,black from undertaking the after fatigue of exploring ,galilee1 was the occasion of directing the steps of our two fathers to that station1 where a severe stroke of sickness was made the means of detaining ,dr4 ,keith till they had learned that there was an open door among the ,jews4 ,and there1 accordingly it has been that the ,lord has poured down his ,spirit on the ,jews that have come to our missionaries so remarkably1 that no ,jewish ,mission seems ever to have been blessed with deeper conversions4 ,there is nothing but truth in the remark made by one of our number3 ,dr4 ,black's fall from the camel was the first step towards ,pesth4 ,whoso is wise1 and will observe these things1 even they shall understand the loving kindness of the ,lord1 ,psalm #ajg3db4 ,indeed1 whether it was that we were prepared to expect1 and therefore were peculiarly ready to observe1 or whether it was really the case that the watchful eye of our ,lord specially guided us1 certain it is that we thought we could perceive the whole course we took signally marked by ,providence4 ,there were many prayers in ,scotland ascending up in our behalf1 and the ,high ,priest gave the answer by shining upon our path4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne has stated3 ,for much of our safety ,i feel indebted to the prayers of my people1 ,i mean the ,christians among them1 who do not forget us4 ,if the veil of the world's machinery were lifted off1 how much we would find is done in answer to the prayers of ,god's children4 ,many things lost somewhat of their importance in our view1 when examined amid the undistracted reflections of the long desert journey1 where for many days we had quiet1 like the quiet of death1 around us all night long1 and even during the bright day4 ,it is the more interesting on this very account1 to know his feelings there on the subject of the ministry4 ,as his camel slowly bore him over the soft sandy soil1 much did he ruminate on the happy days when he was permitted to use all his strength in preaching ,jesus to dying men4 ,use your health while you have it1 my dear friend and brother4 ,do not cast away peculiar opportunities that may never come again4 ,you know not when your last ,sabbath with your people may come4 ,speak for eternity4 ,above all things1 cultivate your own spirit4 ,a word spoken by you when your conscience is clear1 and your heart full of ,god's ,spirit1 is worth ten thousand words spoken in unbelief and sin4 ,this was my great fault in the ministry4 ,remember it is ,god1 and not man1 that must have the glory4 ,it is not much speaking1 but much faith1 that is needed4 ,do not forget us4 ,do not forget the ,saturday night meeting1 nor the ,monday morning thanksgiving4 ,thus he wrote on his way to a fellow-laborer in ,scotland4 ,on our first ,sabbath in the ,holy ,land1 our tent had been pitched in the vicinity of a colony of ants4 ,it was in the tribe of ,simeon we were encamped2 it was the scenery of the ,promised ,land we had around us2 and one of the similitudes of the blessed word was illustrated within our view4 ,he opened his ,bible at ,prov4 #f3f-h1 and1 as he read1 noted--,i4 ,consider her ways4 ,most souls are lost for want of consideration4 ,,ii4 ,the ant has no guide1 overseer1 or ruler2 no officer1 no one to command or encourage her4 ,how differently situated is the child of ,god6 ,,iii4 ,provideth her meat in the summer1 etc4 ,some have thought that this teaches us to heap up money2 but quite the reverse4 ,the ant lays up no store for the future4 ,it is all for present use4 ,she is always busy summer and winter4 ,the lesson is one of constant diligence in the ,lord's work4 ,many a time in these days1 when our attendants in the evening were driving in the stakes of our tent and stretching its cords1 he would lie down on the ground under some tree that sheltered him from the dew4 ,completely exhausted by the long day's ride1 he would lie almost speechless for half an hour2 and then1 when the palpitation of his heart had a little abated1 would propose that we two should pray together4 ,often1 too1 did he say to me1 when thus stretched on the ground1--not impatiently1 but very earnestly1--,shall ,i ever preach to my people again8 ,i was often reproved by his unabated attention to personal holiness2 for this care was never absent from his mind1 whether he was at home in his quiet chamber1 or on the sea1 or in the desert4 ,holiness in him was manifested1 not by efforts to perform duty1 but in a way so natural1 that you recognized therein the easy outflowing of the indwelling ,spirit4 ,the fountain springing up into everlasting life 7,john #d3ad7 in his soul1 welled forth its living waters alike in the familiar scenes of his native ,scotland1 and under the olive-tree of ,palestine4 ,prayer and meditation on the word were never forgotten2 and a peace that the world could not give kept his heart and mind4 ,when we were detained a day at ,gaza1 in very tantalizing circumstances1 his remark was1 ,jehovah ,jireh2 we are at that mount again4 ,it was sweet at any time to be with him1 for both nature and grace in him drew the very heart2 but there were moments of enjoyment in these regions of ,palestine that drew every cord still closer1 and created unknown sympathies4 ,such was that evening when we climbed ,samson's ,hill together4 ,sitting there1 we read over the references to the place in the word of ,god2 and then he took out his pencil and sketched the scene1 as the sun was sinking in the west4 ,this done1 we sang some verses of a psalm1 appropriate to the spot1 offered up prayer1 and1 slowly descending1 conversed of all we saw1 and of all that was brought to mind by the scenery around us1 till we reached our tent4 ,in approaching ,jerusalem1 we came up the ,pass of ,latroon4 ,he writes3 ,the last day's journey to ,jerusalem was the finest ,i ever had in all my life4 ,for four hours we were ascending the rocky pass upon our patient camels4 ,it was like the finest of our ,highland scenes1 only the trees and flowers1 and the voice of the turtle1 told us that it was ,immanuel's land4 ,riding along1 he remarked1 that to have seen the plain of ,judea and this mountain-pass1 was enough to reward us for all our fatigue2 and then began to call up passages of the ,old ,testament ,scriptures which might seem to refer to such scenery as that before us4 ,during our ten days at ,jerusalem1 there were few objects within reach that we did not eagerly seek to visit4 ,we stood at the turning of the road where ,jesus came near and beheld the city and wept over it4 ,and if we had had more of the mind that was in ,jesus1 ,i think we should have wept also4 ,this was his remark in a letter homeward2 and to ,mr4 ,bonar of ,larbert he expressed his feelings in regard to the ,mount of ,olives and its vicinity3 ,i remember the day when ,i saw you last1 you said that there were other discoveries to be made than those in the physical world1--that there were sights to be seen in the spiritual world1 and depths to be penetrated of far greater importance4 ,i have often thought of the truth of your remark4 ,but if there is a place on earth where physical scenery can help us to discover divine things1 ,i think it is ,mount ,olivet4 ,gethsemane at your feet leads your soul to meditate on ,christ's love and determination to undergo divine wrath for us4 ,the cup was set before ,him there1 and there ,he said4 ',shall ,i not drink it8' ,the spot where ,he wept makes you think of his divine compassion1 mingling with his human tenderness1--his awful justice1 that would not spare the city1--his superhuman love1 that wept over its coming misery6 ,turning the other way1 and looking to the south-east1 you see ,bethany1 reminding you of his love to his own1--that his name is love1--that in all our afflictions ,he is afflicted1--that those who are in their graves shall one day come forth at his command4 ,a little farther down you see the ,dead ,sea1 stretching far among the mountains its still and sullen waters4 ,this deepens and solemnizes all1 and makes you go away1 saying1 ',how shall we escape1 if we neglect so great salvation8' ,he wrote to another friend in ,scotland1 from ,mount ,zion1 where we were then dwelling3-- ,mount ,zion1 ,june #ab1 #ahci4 ,,my ,,dear ,,friend1--,now that we are in the most wonderful spot in all this world1--where ,jesus lived and walked1 and prayed and died1 and will come again1--,i doubt not you will be anxious to hear how we come on4 ,i am thankful that ever ,he privileged us to come to this land4 ,i heard of my flock yesterday by a letter from home1--the first ,i have received1 dated #hth ,may4444 ,we are living in one of the missionaries' houses on ,mount ,zion4 ,my window looks out upon where the ,temple was1 the beautiful ,mount of ,olives rising behind4 ,the ,lord that made heaven and earth1 bless thee out of ,zion4--,yours1 etc4 ,one evening1 after our visit to ,sychar1 he referred to the ,bible which ,i had dropped into ,jacob's ,well4 ,we were then resting from our journey in our tents4 ,soon after he penned on a leaf of his note-book the following fragment3-- ,my own loved ,bible1 must ,i part from thee1 ,companion of my toils by land and sea2 ,man of my counsels1 soother of distress1 ,guide of my steps through this world's wilderness ,in darkest nights1 a lantern to my feet2 ,in gladsome days1 as dropping honey sweet4 ,when first ,i parted from my quiet home1 ,at thy command1 for ,israel's good to roam4 ,thy gentle voice said1 ,for ,jerusalem pray1 ,so shall ,jehovah prosper all thy way4 ,when through the lonely wilderness we strayed1 ,sighing in vain for palm-trees' cooling shade1 ,thy words of comfort hushed each rising fear1 ,the shadow of thy mighty ,rock is near4 ,and when we pitched our tents on ,judah's hills1 ,or thoughtful mused beside ,siloa's rills2 ,whene'er we climbed ,mount ,olivet1 to gaze ,upon the sea1 where stood in ancient days ,the heaven-struck ,sodom-- ,sweet record of the past1 to faith's glad eyes1 ,sweet promiser of glories yet to rise6#ad #ad ,it is a somewhat curious occurrence1 that the remnants of this ,bible were found and drawn up from the bottom of the well1 in ,july #ahdc1 by ,dr4 ,wilson and his fellow-traveller1 who employed a ,samaritan from ,sychar to descend and examine the well4 ,at the foot of ,carmel1 during the seven days we were in quarantine under the brow of the hill1 we had time to recall many former scenes2 and in these circumstances he wrote the hymn1 ,the ,fountain of ,siloam4 ,here1 too1 he had leisure to write home2 and most graphically does he describe our journey from ,alexandria onward4 ,,carmel1 ,june #bf1 #ahci ,,my ,,dear ,,father1 ,,mother1 etc4--,it is a long time since ,i have been able to write to you1--this being the first time since leaving ,egypt that any one has appeared to carry letters for us4 ,i must therefore begin by telling you that1 by the good hand of our ,god upon me1 ,i am in excellent health1 and have been ever since ,i wrote you last4 ,fatigues we have had many1 and much greater than ,i anticipated2 hardships and dangers we have also encountered1 but ,god has brought us all safely through1 and in fully better condition than when we began4 ,you must not imagine that ,i have altogether lost the palpitation of my heart1 for it often visits me to humble and prove me2 still ,i believe it is a good deal better than it was1 and its visits are not nearly so frequent4 ,i hope very much1 that in a cold bracing climate1 and with less fatigue1 ,i may perhaps not feel it at all4 ,i was very thankful to receive your letter1 dated #hth ,may1--the first since leaving home4 ,i was delighted to hear of your health and safety1 and of the peaceful communion at ,st4 ,peter's4 ,the public news was alarming and humbling4#ae ,i suppose ,i had better begin at the beginning1 and go over all our journeyings from the land of ,egypt through the howling wilderness to this sweet land of promise4 ,i would have written journalwise 7as my mother would say7 from time to time1 so that ,i might have had an interesting budget of news ready2 but you must remember it is a more fatiguing thing to ride twelve or fourteen hours on a camel's back1 in a sandy wilderness1 than in our home excursions2 and ,i could often do nothing more than lie down on my rug and fall asleep4 #ae ,he alludes here to the decision of the ,house of ,lords in the ,auchterarder case4 ,we left ,alexandria on #afth ,may #ahci1 parting from many kind friends in that strange city4 ,we and our baggage were mounted on seventeen donkeys1 like the sons of ,jacob1 when they carried corn out of ,egypt4 ,our saddle was our bedding1 viz4 a rug to lie on1 a pillow for the head1 and a quilt to wrap ourselves in4 ,we afterwards added a straw mat to put below all4 ,we had procured two tents1--one large1 and a smaller one which ,andrew and ,i occupy4 ,the donkeys are nice nimble little animals1 going about five miles an hour2 a wild ,arab accompanies each donkey4 ,we have our two ,arab servants1 to whom ,i now introduce you1--,ibrahim1 a handsome small-made ,egyptian1 and ,achmet the cook1 a dark good-natured fellow1 with a white turban and bare black legs4 ,ibrahim speaks a little ,english and ,italian1 and ,achmet ,italian1 in addition to their native ,arabic4 ,i soon made friends with our ,arab donkey-men1 learning ,arabic words and phrases2 from them1 which pleased them greatly4 ,we journeyed by the ,bay of ,aboukir1 close by the sea1 which tempered the air of the desert4 ,at night we reached ,rosetta1 a curious half-inhabited eastern town4 ,we saw an eastern marriage1 which highly pleased us1 illustrating the parables4 ,it was by torch-light4 ,we slept in the convent4 #ag4 ,spent morning in ,rosetta2 gave the monk a ,new ,testament4 ,saw some of ,egyptian misery in the bazaar4 ,saw the people praying in the mosque1 ,friday being the ,moslem's day of devotion4 ,in the evening we crossed the ,nile in small boats4 ,it is a fine river2 and its water1 when filtered1 is sweet and pleasant4 ,we often thought upon it in the desert4 ,we slept that night on the sand in our tents1 by the sea-shore4 #ah4--;,in six hours we came to ,bourlos 7you will see it in the map of the ,society for ,diffusing ,useful ,knowledge73 were ferried across4 ,watched the fishermen casting their nets into the sea3 hot--hot4 ,in two hours more through a palmy wilderness1 we came to ,balteen1--'the ,vale of ,figs1' an ,arab village of mud huts4 ,you little know what an ,arab house is4 ,in general1 in ,egypt1 it is an exact square box made of mud1 with a low hole for a door4 ,the furniture is a mat and cooking things2 an oven made of mud4 #ai4--,spent our ,sabbath unoccupied in midst of the village2 the poor ,arabs have no ,sabbath4 ,the thermometer #hd in tent4 ,the governor called in the evening1 and drank a cup of tea with great relish4 ,the heat we felt much all day2 still it was sweet to rest and remember you all in the wilderness4 #bj4--;,at twelve at night1 left ,balteen by beautiful moonlight4 ,proceeding through a pleasant ,african wild of palms and brushwood1 we reached the sea in two hours1 and rode along1 its waves washing our feet3 very sleepy4 ,we got a rest at mid-day1 if rest it could be called1 under that scorching sun1 which ,i never will forget4 ,proceeding onward1 at three o'clock we left the sea-shore1 and perceived the minarets of ,damietta4 ,before us the mirage cheated us often when we were very thirsty4 ,we crossed the ,nile again1 a much smaller branch1--the only remaining one1--and soon found ourselves comfortably reclining on the divan of the ,british ,consul1 an ,egyptian gentleman of some fortune and manners4 ,he entertained us at supper in true ,egyptian style2 provided a room for us1 where we spread our mats in peace4 ,we spent the whole of the next day here1 having sent off a ,bedouin to have camels ready for us at ,san4 ,the ,consul entertained us in the same ,egyptian style of hospitality1 and sent us away the next day on board of a barge upon ,lake ,menzaleh4 #bb4--;,even ,e---- would not have been afraid to sail upon the lake4 ,it is nowhere more than ten feet deep1 and in general only four or five4 ,we made an awning with our mats1 and spent a very happy day4 ,at evening we entered a canal among immense reeds4 ,in moonlight the scene was truly romantic2 we slept moored to the shore all night4 ,next morning 7#bc7 we reached ,san about ten4 ,this evening and next morning we spent in exploring the ruins of the ancient ,zoan1 for this we find is the very spot4 ,wandering alone1 we were quite surprised to find great mounds of brick1 and pottery1 and vitrified stones4 ,andrew at last came upon beautiful obelisks4 ,next morning we examined all carefully1 and found two sphinxes and many ,egyptian obelisks4 ,how wonderful to be treading over the ruins of the ancient capital of ,egypt6 ,isaiah #ai3ab4 ',where are the princes of ,zoan8' ,ezek4 #cj3ad1 ',god has set fire in ,zoan4' ,this is the very place where ,joseph was sold as a slave1 and where ,moses did his wonders1 ,psalm #gh3dc4 ,this was almost the only place where we have been in danger from the inhabitants4 ,they are a wild race2 and our ,arabs were afraid of them4 ,you would have been afraid too1 if you had seen1 out of the door of our tent1 our ,bedouins keeping watch all night with their naked sabres gleaming in the moonlight1 firing off their guns now and then1 and keeping up a low chaunt to keep one another awake4 ,no evil happened to us1 and we feel that many pray for us1 and that ,god is with us4 #bd4--,this day our journeyings on camels commenced and continued till we came to ,jerusalem4 ,it is a strange mode of conveyance4 ,you have seen a camel kneeling2 it is in this condition that you mount2 suddenly it rises first on its fore feet1 and then on its hind feet4 ,it requires great skill to hold yourself on during this operation2 one time ,i was thrown fair over its head1 but quite unhurt4 ,when you find yourself exalted on the hunch of a camel1 it is somwhat of the feeling of an aeronaut1 as if you were bidding farewell to sublunary things2 but when he begins to move1 with solemn pace and slow1 you are reminded of your terrestrial origin1 and that a wrong balance or turn to the side will soon bring you down from your giddy height4 ,you have no stirrup1 and generally only your bed for your saddle2 you may either sit as on horseback1 or as on a sidesaddle1--the latter is the pleasanter1 though not the safer of the two4 ,the camel goes about three miles an hour1 and the step is so long that the motion is quite peculiar4 ,you bend your head toward your knees every step4 ,with a vertical sun above and a burning sand below1 you may believe it is a very fatiguing mode of journeying4 ,however1 we thought of ,rebecca and ,abraham's servant 7,gen4 #bd471 and listened with delight to the wild ,bedouin's plaintive song4 ,that night 7#bd7 we slept at ,menagie1 a ,bedouin mud village3 palm-trees and three wells1 and an ocean of sand1 formed the only objects of interest4 #be4--,up by sunrise1 and proceeded as before4 ,the only event this day was ,dr4 ,black's fall from his camel1 which greatly alarmed us4 ,he had fallen asleep1 which you are very apt to do4 ,we encamped and used every restorative1 so that we were able to proceed the same evening to ,gonatre1 a miserable ,arab post1 having a governor4 ,not a tree4 #bf4--,the ,sabbath dawned sweetly2 thermometer #ib in tent2 could only lie on the mat and read psalms4 ,evening4--,gathered governor and ,bedouins to hear some words of eternal life1 ,ibrahim interpreting4 #bg4--,two very long stages brought us to ,katieh2 thankful to ,god for his goodness1 while we pitched by the date-trees4 #bh4--,spent the day at ,katieh2 interesting interviews with governor1 a kind ,arab2 thermometer #if in tent4 ,same evening1 proceeded through a greener desert1 among flocks of goats and sheep1 and encamped by a well1 ,bir-el-,abd4 #bi4--;,another hot day in the desert2 came in sight of the sea1 which gave us a refreshing breeze2 bathed in the salt lake1 as hot as a warm bath4 ,evening4--,encampment at ,abugilbany4 #cj4--,this was our last day in the ,egyptian wilderness4 ,we entered on a much more mountainous region4 ,the heat very great2 we literally panted for a breath of wind4 ,the ,bedouins begged handkerchiefs to cover their heads1 and often cast themselves under a bush for shade4 ,towards sunset1 we came down on the old ruins of ,rhinoculura1 now buried in the sand2 and soon after our camels kneeled down at the gates of ,el ,arish1 the last town on the ,egyptian frontier4 #ca4--,we spent in ,el ,arish1 being unable to get fresh camels4 ,we bought a sheep for five shillings2 drank freely of their delightful water1--what a blessing after the desert6 ,found out the river of ,egypt1 the boundary of ,judah mentioned in the ,bible1 quite dry4 ,june #a4--,visited the school1--a curiosity3 all the children sit cross-legged on the floor1 rocking to and fro1 repeating something in ,arabic4 ,we had a curious interview with the governor1 sitting in the gate in the ancient manner4 ,we are quite expert now at taking off our shoes and sitting in the ,eastern mode4 ,smoking1 and coffee in very small cups1 are the constant accompaniments of these visits4 ,left the same evening1 and did not reach ,sheikh ,juidhe1 in the land of the ,philistines1 till the sun was nearly bursting into view4 #b4--,spent a happy ,sabbath here2 sung ',in ,judah's land ,god is well known4' ,singing praises in our tents is very sweet1 they are so frail1 like our mortal bodies2 they rise easily into the ears of our present ,father4 ,our journey through the land of the ,philistines was truly pleasant4 #c4--,we went through a fine pasture country2 immense straths2 flocks of sheep and goats1 and asses and camels1 often came in sight4 ,this is the very way up out of ,egypt1 little changed from the day that the ,ethiopian went on his way rejoicing1 and ,joseph and ,mary carried down the babe from the anger of ,herod4 ,little changed1 did ,i say8 it is all changed2 no more is there one brook of water4 ,every river of ,egypt1--,wady ,gaza1 ,eshcol1 ,sorek1--every brook we crossed1 was dried up2 not a drop of water4 ,the land is changed2 no more is it the rich land of ,philistia4 ,the sand struggles with the grass for mastery4 ,the cities are changed1--where are they8 ,the people are changed3 no more the bold ,philistines1--no more the children of ,simeon1--no more ,isaac and his herdsmen1--no more ,david and his horsemen2 but miserable ,arab shepherds1--simple people1 without ideas1--poor degraded1 fearful4 ,khanounes was the first town we entered3 ,scripture name unknown4 ,the burying-ground outside the town4 ,the well1 and people coming to draw1 were objects of great interest to us4 ,the people were highly entertained with us in return4 ,we sat down in the bazaar1 and were a spectacle to all4 ,how much we longed to have the ,arabic tongue1 that we might preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ in ,god's own land6 ,same evening we heard the cry of the wolf1 and encamped two miles from ,gaza4 ,the plague was raging1 so we did not enter1 but spent a delightful day in comparing its condition with ,god's word concerning it3 ',baldness is come upon ,gaza4' ,the old city is buried under sand-hills1 without a blade of grass1 so that it is bald indeed4 ,the herds and flocks are innumerable1 fulfilling ,zeph4 #b2 ,andrew and ,i climbed the hill up which ,samson carried the gates4 #e4--,passed through a fine olive grove for many miles1 and entered the vale of ,eshcol4 ,the people were all in the fields cutting and bringing in their barley4 ,they reap with the hook as we do4 ,they seem to carry in at the same time upon camels4 ,no vines in ,eshcol now1 no pomegranates1 but some green fig-trees4 ,crossed the brook ,sorek--dry4 ,spent the mid-day under the embowering shade of a fig-tree2 tasted the apricots of the good land4 ,same evening we came to ,doulis1 which we take to be ,eshtaol1 where ,samson was born4 #f4--,we went due east1 and1 after a mountain pass1 saw the hills of ,judah1--an immense plain intervening1 all studded with little towns4 ,from their names1 we found out many ,bible spots4 ,this valley or plain is the very vale ,zephatha1 of which you read in ,,ii ,chron4 #ad41 ',in the plain of ,sephela4' ,before night we entered among the hills of ,judah1--very like our own ,highlands1--and slept all night among the mountains1 at a deserted village called ,latroon4 #g4--,one of the most privileged days of our life4 ,we broke up our tents by moonlight2 soon the sun was up2 we entered a defile of the most romantic character2 wild rocks and verdant hills2 wild-flowers of every color and fragrance scented our path4 ,sometimes we came upon a clump of beautiful olive-trees1 then wild again4 ,the turtle's voice was heard in the land1 and singing birds of sweetest note4 ,our camels carried us up this pass for four hours2 and our turbaned ,bedouins added by their strange figures to the scene4 ,the terracing of all the hills is the most remarkable feature of ,judean scenery4 ,every foot of the rockiest mountains may in this way be covered with vines4 ,we thought of ,isaiah wandering here1 and ,david and ,solomon4 ,still all was wilderness4 ,the hand of man had been actively employed upon every mountain1 but where were these laborers now8 ,judah is gone into captivity before the enemy4 ,there are few men left in the land2 not a vine is there4 ',the vine languisheth4' ,we came down upon ,garieh1 a village embosomed in figs and pomegranates4 ,ascending again1 we came down into the valley of ,elah1 where ,david slew ,goliath4 ,another long and steep ascent of a most rugged hill brought us into a strange scene--a desert of sunburnt rocks4 ,i had read of this1 and knew that ,jerusalem was near4 ,i left my camel and went before1 hurrying over the burning rocks4 ,in about half an hour ,jerusalem came in sight4 ',how doth the city sit solitary that was full of people6' ,is this the perfection of beauty8 ',how hath the ,lord covered the daughter of ,zion with a cloud in his anger6' ,it is1 indeed1 very desolate4 ,read the two first chapters of ,lamentations1 and you have a vivid picture of our first sight of ,jerusalem4 ,we lighted off our camels within the ,jaffa gate4 ,among those that crowded round us1 we observed several ,jews4 ,i think ,i had better not attempt to tell you about ,jerusalem4 ,there is so much to describe1 and ,i know not where to begin4 ,the ,consul1 ,mr4 ,young1 received us most kindly1 provided us a house where we might spread our mats1 and helped us in every way4 ,mr4 ,nicolayson called the same evening1 and insisted on our occupying one of the mission-houses on ,mount ,zion4 ,the plague is still in ,jerusalem1 so that we must keep ourselves in quarantine4 ,the plague only communicates by contact1 so that we are not allowed to touch any one1 or let any one touch us4 ,every night we heard the mourners going about the streets with their dismal wailings for the dead4 ,on ,sabbath ,mr4 ,nicolayson read the prayers1 and ,dr4 ,black preached from ,isaiah #b3b4 ,dr4 ,keith in the evening4 ,three converted ,jews were among the hearers4 ,on ,monday 7#aj7 we visited the sepulchre1 and a painful sight1 where we can find no traces of ,calvary4 ,same evening rode up to the ,mount of ,olives3 past ,gethsemane1 a most touching spot4 ,visited ,sir ,moses ,montefiore1 a ,jew of ,london1 encamped on ,mount ,olivet2 very kind to us4 #aa4--,went round the most of the places to be visited near ,jerusalem1--,rephaim1 ,gihon1 ,siloa's brook1 'that flowed fast by the oracle of ,god2' the ,pool of ,siloam2 the place where ,jesus wept over the city2 ,bethany1--of all places my favorite2 the tombs of the kings4 ,such a day we never spent in this world before4 ,the climate is truly delightful1--hot at mid-day1 but delightful breezes at morn and even4 #ab4--;,a business day1 getting information about ,jews4 ,in the evening1 walked to ,aceldama1--a dreadful spot4 ,zion is ploughed like a field4 ,i gathered some barley1 and noticed cauliflowers planted in rows4 ,see ,micah #c3ab4 ,jerusalem is indeed heaps4 ,the quantities of rubbish would amaze you1--in one place higher than the walls4 #ac4--,we went to ,hebron1 twenty miles south2 ,mr4 ,nicolayson1 his son1 the ,consul and ladies accompanying us1 all on mules and horses1 ,judah's cities are all waste4 ,except ,bethlehem1 we saw none but ruins till we reached ,hebron4 ,the vines are beautifully cultivated here1 and make it a paradise2 ,the hills all terraced to the top4 ,we spent a delightful evening and all next day4 ,we met the ,jews1 and had an interesting interview with them4 ,we read ,genesis #ah1 and many other ,bible passages1 with great joy4 ,saw the mosque where the tomb of ,abraham and ,sarah is4 #ad4--,returned by ,bethlehem to ,jerusalem4 ,bethlehem is a sweet village1 placed on the top of a rocky hill1--very white and dazzling4 ,you see it on both sides of the hill4 ,at ,rachel's sepulchre you see ,jerusalem on one hand and ,bethlehem on the other1--an interesting sight1--six miles apart4 ,on ,sabbath we enjoyed the ,lord's ,supper in an upper chamber in ,jerusalem4 ,it was a time much to be remembered4 ,andrew preached in the evening from ,john #ad3b1 #c4 #ag4--,the plague has been increasing so that we think it better to depart4 ,last visit to ,gethsemane1 and ,bethany1 and ,siloam4 ,evening4--,took farewell of all our friends at ,jerusalem1 with much sorrow you may believe4 ,went due north to ,ramah1 by ,gibeon1 and slept at ,beer1 again in our tent1 in ,benjamin4 #ai4--,passed ,bethel1 where ,jacob slept4 ,passed through the rich and rocky defile of ,ephraim1 by ,lebonah1 to ,sychar4 ,you cannot believe what a delightsome land it is4 ,we sought anxiously for the well where ,jesus sat4 ,andrew alone found it1 and lost his ,bible in it4 #bj4--;,had a most interesting morning with the ,jews of ,sychar4 ,saw many of them2 also the ,samaritans in their synagogue4 ,same evening visited ,samaria1--a wonderful place1--and encamped at ,sanor4 #ba4--;,arrived at ,carmel1 where we now are1 encamped within two yards of the sea4 ,we have been in quarantine here seven days1 as there is no plague north of this4 ,several ,english are encamped here--,lord ,r41 ,lord ,h41 etc4 ,we have daily conversations sitting on the sand4 ,we are not allowed to touch even the rope of a tent4 ,acre is in sight across the bay4 ,we have delightful bathing4 ,to-morrow ,lord ,h4 leaves1 and kindly offers to take this4 ,carmel's rocky brow is over us4 ,we are all well and happy4 ,on ,monday we propose leaving for ,tiberias and ,saphet4 ,soon we shall be in ,beyrout1 and on our way to ,smyrna4 ,do not be anxious for me4 ,trust us to ,god1 who goes with us where we go4 ,i only pray that our mission may be blessed to ,israel4 ,sir ,moses ,m4 has arrived1 and pitched his tent within fifty yards of us4 ,kindest regards to all that inquire after me1 not forgetting dear ,w4--,your affectionate son1 etc4 ,when the two elder brethren of the deputation left us for ,europe1 we turned southward again from ,beyrout1 to visit the regions of ,phoenicia and ,galilee4 ,never did ,mr4 ,m',cheyne seem more gladsome than in gazing on these regions4 ,at ,tyre1 he remembered the request of an elder in the parish of ,larbert1 who had written to him before his departure1 stating what he considered to be a difficulty in the ordinary expositions of the prophecies which speak of that renowned city4 ,with great delight he examined the difficulty on the spot2 and it is believed that his testimony on such points as these1 when it reached some men of sceptical views in that scene of his early labors1 was not unblest4 ,from ,saphet he writes3 ,i sat looking down upon the lake this morning for about an hour4 ,it was just at our feet1--the very water where ,jesus walked1 where ,he called his disciples1 where ,he rebuked the storm1 where ,he said1 ',children1 have ye any meat8' after ,he rose from the dead4 ,jesus is the same still4 ,to his early and familiar friend1 ,mr4 ,somerville1 he thus describes the same view3 ,oh what a view of the ,sea of ,galilee is before you1 at your feet6 ,it is above three hours' descent to the water's edge1 and yet it looks as if you could run down in as many minutes4 ,the lake is much larger than ,i had imagined4 ,it is hemmed in by mountains on every side1 sleeping as calmly and softly as if it had been the sea of glass which ,john saw in heaven4 ,we tried in vain to follow the course of the ,jordan running through it4 ,true1 there were clear lines1 such as you see in the wake of a vessel1 but then these did not go straight through the lake4 ,the hills of ,bashan are very high and steep1 where they run into the lake4 ,at one point1 a man pointed out to us where the tombs in the rocks are1 where the demoniacs used to live3 and near it the hills were exactly what the ,scriptures describe1 'a steep place1' where the swine ran down into the sea4 ,on the north-east of the sea1 ,hermon rises very grand1 intersected with many ravines full of snow4 ,the day we spent at the lake--at the very water-side--was ever memorable1 it was so peculiarly sweet6 ,we left an indescribable interest even in lifting a shell from the shore of a sea where ,jesus had so often walked4 ,it was here that two of the beautiful hymns in ,the ,songs of ,zion were suggested to him4 ,the one was1 ,how pleasant to me1 etc42 the other1 ,to yonder side2 but the latter lay beside him unfinished till a later period4 ,his complaint was now considerably abated2 his strength seemed returning3 and often did he long to be among his people again1 though quieting his soul upon the ,lord4 ,not a few pastors of another church have from time to time come forth to this land1 compelled by disease to seek for health in foreign regions2 but how rarely do we find the pastor's heart retained1--how rarely do we discover that the shepherd yearns still over the flock he left6 ,but so deep was ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's feelings toward the flock over which the ,holy ,ghost had made him overseer1 that his concern for them became a temptation to his soul4 ,it was not in the mere desire to preach again that he manifested this concern2 for this desire might have been selfish1 as he said3 ,no doubt there is pride in this anxiety to preach2 a submissive soul would rejoice only in doing the present will of ,god4 ,but his prayers for them went up daily to the throne4 ,we had precious seasons of united prayer also for that same end1--especially one morning at sunrise in ,gethsemane1 and another morning at ,carmel1 where we joined in supplication on the silent shore at the foot of the hill as soon as day dawned1 and then again1 at evening1 on the top1 where ,elijah prayed4 ,distance of place of peculiarities of circumstance never altered his views of duty1 nor changed his feelings as a minister of ,christ4 ,in ,galilee he meditated upon the aspect of ecclesiastical affairs in our beloved ,scotland2 and the principles he had maintained appeared to him as plainly accordant with the word of ,god when tried there1 apart from excitement1 as they did when he reviewed them in connection with their effects at home4 ,i hope1 were his words to a brother in the ministry1 ,i hope the church has been well guided and blessed2 and if times of difficulty are to come1 ,i do believe there is no position so proper for her to be in as the attitude of a missionary church1 giving freely to ,jew and ,gentile1 as she has freely received1--so may she be found when the ,lord comes4 ,at the foot of ,lebanon1 in the town of ,beyrout1 he was able to expound a chapter 7,acts #aj47 at a prayer-meeting of the ,american brethren4 ,this quite rejoiced his heart2 for it seemed as if the ,lord were restoring him1 and meant again to use him in preaching the glad tidings4 ,but shortly after1 during the oppressive heat of the afternoon1 he felt himself unwell4 ,he had paid a visit to a young man from ,glasgow in the town1 who was ill of fever2 and it is not unlikely that this visit1 at a time when he was in a state of debility from previous fatigue1 was the immediate occasion of his own illness4 ,he was very soon prostrated under the fever4 ,but his medical attendant apprehended no danger1 and advised him to proceed to ,smyrna1 in the belief that the cool air of the sea would be much more in his favor than the sultry heat of ,beyrout4 ,accordingly1 in company with our faithful ,hebrew friend ,erasmus ,calman1 we embarked2 but as we lay off ,cyprus1 the fever increased to such a height1 that he lost his memory for some hours1 and was racked with excessive pain in his head4 ,when the vessel sailed1 he revived considerably1 but during three days no medical aid could be obtained4 ,he scarcely ever spoke2 and only once did he for a moment1 on a ,saturday night1 lift his languid eye1 as he lay on deck enjoying the breeze1 to catch a distant sight of ,patmos4 ,we watched him with agonizing anxiety till we reached ,smyrna and the village of ,bouja4 ,though three miles off1 yet1 for the sake of medical aid1 he rode to this village upon a mule after sunset1 ready to drop every moment with pain and burning fever4 ,but here the ,lord had prepared for him the best and kindest help4 ,the tender and parental care of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,lewis1 in whose house he found a home1 was never mentioned by him but with deepest gratitude2 and the sight of the flowering jessamine1 or the mention of the deep-green cypress1 would invariably call up in his mind associations of ,bouja and its inmates4 ,he used to say it was his second birth-place4 ,during that time1 like most of ,god's people who have been in sickness1 he felt that a single passage of the word of ,god was more truly food to his fainting soul than anything besides4 ,one day his spirit revived1 and his eye glistened1 when ,i spoke of the ,saviour's sympathy1 adducing as the very words of ,jesus1 ,psalm #da3a3 ,blessed is he that considereth the poor3 the ,lord will deliver him in time of trouble1 etc4 ,it seemed so applicable to his own case1 as a minister of the glad tidings2 for often had he considered the poor1 carrying a cup of cold water to a disciple4 ,another passage1 written for the children of ,god in their distress1 was spoken to him when he seemed nearly insensible3 ,call upon me in the day of trouble4 ,this word of ,god was as the drop of honey to ,jonathan4 ,he himself thus spoke of his illness to his friends at home3 ,i left the foot of ,lebanon when ,i could hardly see1 or hear1 or speak1 or remember2 ,i felt my faculties going1 one by one1 and ,i had every reason to expect that ,i would soon be with my ,god4 ,it is a sore trial to be alone and dying in a foreign land1 and it has made me feel1 in a way that ,i never knew before1 the necessity of having unfeigned faith in ,jesus and in ,god4 ,sentiments1 natural feelings1 glowing fancies of divine things1 will not support the soul in such an hour4 ,there is much self-delusion in our estimation of ourselves when we are untried1 and in the midst of ,christian friends1 whose warm feelings give a glow to ours1 which they do not possess in themselves4 ,even then he had his people in his heart4 ,when ,i got better1 ,i used to creep out in the evenings about sunset4 ,i often remembered you all then4 ,i could not write1 as my eyes and head were much affected2 ,i could read but very little2 ,i could speak very little1 for ,i had hardly any voice2 and so ,i had all my time to lay my people before ,god1 and pray for a blessing on them4 ,about the last evening ,i was there1 we all went to the vintage1 and ,i joined in gathering the grapes4 ,to ,mr4 ,somerville he wrote3 ,my mind was very weak when ,i was at the worst1 and therefore the things of eternity were often dim4 ,i had no fear to die1 for ,christ had died4 ,still ,i prayed for recovery1 if it was the ,lord's will4 ,you remember you told me to be humble among your last advices4 ,you see ,god is teaching me the same thing4 ,i fear ,i am not thoroughly humbled4 ,i feel the pride of my heart1 and bewail it4 ,to his kind medical friend1 ,dr4 ,gibson1 in ,dundee1 he wrote3 ,i really believed that my ,master had called me home1 and that ,i would sleep beneath the dark-green cypresses of ,bouja till the ,lord shall come1 and they that sleep in ,jesus come with ,him2 and my most earnest prayer was for my dear flock1 that ,god would give them a pastor after his own heart4 ,when we met1 after an eight days' separation1 on board the vessel at ,constantinople1 he mentioned as one of the most interesting incidents of the week1 that one evening1 while walking with ,mr4 ,lewis1 they met a young ,greek and his wife1 both of whom were believed to be really converted souls4 ,it created a thrill in his bosom to meet with these almost solitary representatives of the once faithful and much tried native church of ,smyrna4 ,meanwhile there were movements at home that proved the ,lord to be ,he who alone doeth wondrous things4 ,the cry of his servant in ,asia was not forgotten2 the eye of the ,lord turned towards his people4 ,it was during the time of ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's sore sickness that his flock in ,dundee were receiving blessing from the opened windows of heaven4 ,their pastor was lying at the gate of death1 in utter helplessness4 ,but the ,lord had done this on very purpose2 for ,he meant to show that ,he needed not the help of any3 ,he could send forth new laborers1 and work by new instruments1 when it pleased ,him4 ,we little knew that during the days when we were waiting at the foot of ,lebanon for a vessel to carry us to ,smyrna1 the arm of the ,lord had begun to be revealed in ,scotland4 ,on the #bc;d of ,july the great ,revival at ,kilsyth took place4 ,mr4 ,w4,c4 ,burns1 the same who was supplying ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's place in his absence1 was on that day preaching to his father's flock2 and while pressing upon them immediate acceptance of ,christ with deep solemnity1 the whole of the vast assembly were overpowered4 ,the ,holy ,spirit seemed to come down as a rushing mighty wind1 and to fill the place4 ,very many were that day struck to the heart2 the sanctuary was filled with distressed and inquiring souls4 ,all ,scotland heard the glad news that the sky was no longer as brass1--that the rain had begun to fall4 ,the ,spirit in mighty power began to work from that day forward in many places of the land4 ,mr4 ,burns returned to ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's flock on ,august #hth1--one of the days when ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was stretched on his bed1 praying for his people under all his own suffering4 ,the news of the work at ,kilsyth had produced a deep impression in ,dundee2 and two days after1 the ,spirit began to work in ,st4 ,peter's1 at the time of the prayer-meeting in the church1 in a way similar to ,kilsyth4 ,day after day the people met for prayer and hearing the word2 and the times of the apostles seemed returned1 when the ,lord added to the church daily of such as should be saved4 ,all this time1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne knew not how gracious the ,lord had been in giving him his heart's desire4 ,it was not till we were within sight of home that the glad news of these ,revivals reached our ears4 ,but he continued1 like ,epaphras1 laboring fervently in prayer1 and sought daily to prepare himself for a more efficient discharge of his office1 should the ,lord restore him to it again4 ,he sends home this message to a fellow-laborer3 ,do not forget to carry on the work in hearts brought to a ,saviour4 ,i feel this was one of my faults in the ministry4 ,nourish babes2 comfort downcast believers2 counsel those perplexed2 perfect that which is lacking in their faith4 ,prepare them for sore trials4 ,i fear most ,christians are quite unready for days of darkness4--7,mr4 ,moody ,stuart47 ,our journey led us through ,moldavia1 ,wallachia1 and ,austria1--lands of darkness and of the shadow of death4 ,profound strangers to the truth as it is in ,jesus1 the people of these lands1 nevertheless1 profess to be ,christians4 ,superstition and its idolatries veil the glorious object of faith from every eye4 ,in these regions1 as well as in those already traversed4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's anxiety for souls appeared in the efforts he made to leave at least a few words of ,scripture with the ,jews whom we met1 however short the time of our interview4 ,his spirit was stirred in him2 and1 with his ,hebrew ,bible in his hand1 he would walk up thoughtfully and solemnly to the first ,jew he could get access to1 and begin by calling the man's attention to some statement of ,god's word4 ,in ,palestine1 if the ,jew did not understand ,italian1 he would repeat to him such texts in ,hebrew as1 ,in that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of ,david1 etc4 7,zech4 #ac3a47 ,and one evening1 at the well of ,doulis1 when the ,arab population were all clustered round the water troughs1 he looked on very wistfully1 and said1 ,if only we had ,arabic1 we might sow beside all waters6 ,at ,jassy1 after a deeply interesting day1 spent in conversation with ,jews who came to the inn1 he said1 ,i will remember the faces of those men at the judgment-seat4 ,when he came among the more educated ,jews of ,europe1 he rejoiced to find that they could converse with him in ,latin4 ,his heart was bent on doing what he could 7,mark #ad3h71 in season and out of season4 ,one thing1 he writes1 ,i am deeply convinced of1 that ,god can make the simplest statement of the gospel effectual to save souls4 ,if only it be the true gospel1 the good tidings1 the message that ,god loved the world1 and provided a ransom free to all1 then ,god is able to make it wound the heart1 and heal it too4 ,there is deep meaning in the words of ,paul1 ',i am not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ4' ,the abominations of ,popery witnessed in ,austrian ,poland1 called forth many a prayer for the destruction of the ,man of ,sin4 ,the images and idols by the wayside are actually frightful1 stamping the whole land as a kingdom of darkness4 ,i do believe that a journey through ,austria would go far to cure some of the ,popery-admirers of our beloved land4 ,he adds3 ,these are the marks of the beast upon this land4 ,and in like manner our privileges in ,scotland used to appear to him the more precious1 when1 as at ,brody1 we heard of ,protestants who were supplied with sermon only once a year4 ,i must tell this to my people1 said he1 when ,i return1 to make them prize their many seasons of grace4 ,he estimated the importance of a town or country by its relation to the house of ,israel2 and his yearnings over these lost sheep resembled his bowels of compassion for his flock at home4 ,at ,tarnapol1 in ,galicia1 he wrote home3 ,we are in ,tarnapol1 a very nice clean town1 prettily situated on a winding stream1 with wooded hills around4 ,i suppose you never heard its name before2 neither did ,i till we were there among ,jews4 ,i know not whether it has been the birth-place of warriors1 or poets1 or orators2 its flowers have hitherto been born to blush unseen1 at least by us barbarians of the north2 but if ,god revive the dry bones of ,israel that are scattered over the world1 there will arise from this place an exceeding great army4 ,our friend and brother in the faith1 ,erasmus ,calman1 lightened the tediousness of a long day's journey by repeating to us some ,hebrew poetry4 ,one piece was on ,israel's present state of degradation2 it began-- ,hebrew3 tsuri goali maheir v'chish p'dut ,as the vehicle drove along1 we translated it line by line1 and soon after ,mr4 ,m',cheyne put it into verse4 ,the following lines are a part3-- ,rock and ,refuge of my soul1 ,swiftly let the season roll1 ,when thine ,israel shall arise ,lovely in the nations' eyes6 ,lord of glory1 ,lord of might1 ,as our ransomed fathers tell2 ,once more for thy people fight1 ,plead for thy loved ,israel4 ,give our spoilers' towers to be ,waste and desolate as we4 ,hasten1 ,lord1 the joyful year1 ,when thy ,zion1 tempest-tossed1 ,shall the silver trumpet hear3 ,bring glad tidings to the lost6 ,captive1 cast thy cords from thee1 ,loose thy neck--be free--be free6 ,why dost ,thou behold our sadness8 ,see the proud have torn away ,all our years of solemn gladness1 ,when thy flock kept holy-day6 ,lord1 thy fruitful vine is bare1 ,not one gleaning grape is there6 ,rock and ,refuge of my soul1 ,swiftly let the season roll1 ,when thine ,israel shall be1 ,once again1 beloved and free4 ,in his notes1 he has one or two subjects marked for hymns4 ,one of these is--,isaiah #b3c--;,come ye1 etc41 a loving call to the ,jews4 ,another is to the same effect--,isaiah #a3ae--;,come1 let us reason together4 ,but these he never completed4 ,in ,cracow1 having heard of the death of a friend1 the wife of an ,english clergyman1 in the midst of her days and in the full promise of usefulness1 he began to pen a few sweet lines of comfort3 ,oft as she taught the little maids of ,france ,to leave the garland1 castanet1 and dance1 ,and listen to the words which she would say ,about the crowns that never fade away1 ,a new expression kindled in her eye1 ,a holy brightness1 borrowed from the sky4 ,and when returning to her native land1 ,she bowed beneath a ,father's chast'ning hand1 ,when the quick pulse and flush upon the cheek1 ,a touching warning to her friends would speak1 ,a holy cheerfulness yet filled her eye1 ,willing she was to live1 willing to die4 ,as the good ,shunammite 7the ,scriptures tell71 ,when her son died1 said meekly1 ,it is well1 ,so when ,sophia lost her infant boy1 ,and felt how dear-bought is a mother's joy1 ,when with green turf the little grave she spread1 ,not lost1 but gone before1 she meekly said4 ,and now they sleep together 'neath the willow ,the same dew drops upon their silent pillow4 ,return1 ,o mourner1 from this double grave1 ,and praise the ,god who all her graces gave4 ,follow her faith1 and let her mantle be ,a cloak of holy zeal to cover thee4 ,the danger which he incurred from the shepherds in this region1 and other similar perils to which he was exposed in company with others1 have been recorded in the ,narrative4 ,out of them all the ,lord delivered him2 and not from these perils only did ,he save him1 but from many severe trials to his health1 to which variety of climate and discomforts of accommodation subjected him4 ,and now we were traversing ,prussia1 drawing nearer our own land4 ,it was about five months since we had received letters from ,scotland1 our route having led us away from places which we had anticipated visiting1 and where communications had been left for us4 ,we pressed homeward somewhat anxiously1 yet wondering often at past mercies4 ,in a letter from ,berlin1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne remarked1 ,our heavenly ,father has brought us through so many trials and dangers that ,i feel persuaded ,he will yet carry us to the end4 ,like ,john1 we shall fulfil our course4 ',are there not twelve hours in the day8' ,are we not all immortal till our work is done8 ,his strength was rapidly increasing2 the journey had answered the ends anticipated to a great extent1 in his restoration to health4 ,he was able to preach at ,hamburgh to the ,english congregation of ,mr4 ,rheder1 from whom it was that the first hint of a ,revival in ,dundee reached his ears4 ,he heard just so much both of ,kilsyth and ,dundee as to make him long to hear more4 ,a few days after1 on board the vessel that conveyed us to ,england1 he thus expressed his feelings3-- ,sailing up the ,thames1 ,nov4 #f1 #ahci4 ,,my ,,dear ,,father ,,and ,,mother1--,you will be glad to see by the date that we are once more in sight of the shores of happy ,england4 ,i only wish ,i knew how you all are4 ,i have not heard of you since ,i was in ,smyrna4 ,in vain did ,i inquire for letters from you at ,cracow1 ,berlin1 and ,hamburgh4 ,you must have written to ,warsaw1 and the ,resident there has not returned them to ,berlin1 as we desired4 ,andrew and ,i and ,mr4 ,calman are all quite well1 and thankful to ,god1 who has brought us through every danger in so many countries4 ,i trust our course has not been altogether fruitless1 and that we may now resign our commission with some hope of good issuing from it to the church and to ,israel4 ,i preached last ,sabbath in ,hamburgh1 for the first time since leaving ,england1 and felt nothing the worse of it2 so that ,i do hope it is my heavenly ,father's will to restore me to usefulness again among my beloved flock4 ,we have heard something of a reviving work at ,kilsyth4 ,we saw it noticed in one of the newspapers4 ,i also saw the name of ,dundee associated with it2 so that ,i earnestly hope good has been doing in our church1 and the dew from on high watering our parishes1 and that the flocks whose pastors have been wandering may also have shared in the blessing4 ,we are quite ignorant of the facts1 and you may believe we are anxious to hear4444 ,we are now passing ,woolwich1 and in an hour will be in ,london4 ,we are anxious to be home1 but ,i suppose will not get away till next week4 ,i never thought to have seen you again in this world1 but now ,i hope to meet you once more in peace4--,believe me1 your affectionate son1 etc4 ,the day we arrived on the shores of our own land was indeed a singular day4 ,we were intensely anxious to hear of events that had occurred at home a few months before1--the outpouring of the ,spirit from on high1--while our friends were intensely interested in hearing tidings of the land of ,israel and the scattered tribes4 ,the reception of deputation on their return1 and the fruits of their mission1 are well known1 and have been elsewhere recorded4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne listened with deepest interest to the accounts given of what had taken place in ,dundee during the month of ,august1 when he lay at the gates of death in ,bouja4 ,the ,lord had indeed fulfilled his hopes1 and answered his prayers4 ,his assistant1 ,mr4 ,burns1 had been honored of ,god to open the floodgate at ,dundee as well as at ,kilsyth4 ,for some time before1 ,mr4 ,burns had seen symptoms of deeper attention than usual1 and of real anxiety in some that had hitherto been careless4 ,but it was after his return from ,kilsyth that the people began to melt before the ,lord4 ,on ,thursday1 the second day after his return1 at the close of the usual evening prayer-meeting in ,st4 ,peter's1 and when the minds of many were deeply solemnized by the tidings which had reached them1 he spoke a few words about what had for some days detained him from them1 and invited those to remain who felt the need of an outpouring of the ,spirit to convert them4 ,about a hundred remained2 and at the conclusion of a solemn address to these anxious souls1 suddenly the power of ,god seemed to descend1 and all were bathed in tears4 ,at a similar meeting next evening1 in the church1 there was much melting of heart and intense desire after the ,beloved of the ,father2 and on adjourning to the vestry1 the arm of the ,lord was revealed4 ,no sooner was the vestry-door opened to admit those who might feel anxious to converse1 than a vast number pressed in with awful eagerness4 ,it was like a pent-up flood breaking forth2 tears were streaming from the eyes of many1 and some fell on the ground groaning1 and weeping1 and crying for mercy4 ,onward from that evening1 meetings were held every day for many weeks1 and the extraordinary nature of the work justified and called for extraordinary services4 ,the whole town was moved4 ,many believers doubted2 the ungodly raged2 but the word of ,god grew mightily and prevailed4 ,instances occured where whole families were affected at once1 and each could be found mourning apart1 affording a specimen of the times spoken of by ,zechariah 7#ab3ab74 ,mr4 ,baxter of ,hilltown1 ,mr4 ,hamilton1 then assistant at ,abernyte1 and other men of ,god in the vicinity1 hastened to aid in the work4 ,mr4 ,roxburgh of ,st4 ,john's1 and ,mr4 ,lewis of ,st4 ,david's1 examined the work impartially and judiciously1 and testified it to be of ,god4 ,dr4 ,m',donald of ,ferintosh1 a man of ,god well experienced in ,revivals1 came to the spot and put to his seal also1 and continued in town1 preaching in ,st4 ,david's ,church to the anxious multitudes1 during ten days4 ,how many of those who were thus awfully awakened were really brought to the truth1 it was impossible to ascertain4 ,when ,mr4 ,m',cheyne arrived1 drop after drop was still failing from the clouds4 ,such in substance were the accounts he heard before he reached ,dundee4 ,they were such as made his heart rejoice4 ,he had no envy at another instrument having been so honored in the place where he himself had labored with many tears and temptations4 ,in true ,christian magnanimity1 he rejoiced that the work of the ,lord was done1 by whatever hand4 ,full of praise and wonder1 he set his foot once more on the shore of ,dundee4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,days ,,of ,,revival4 ,they shall spring up as among the grass1 as willows by the water-courses--,isaiah #dd3d ,his people1 who had never ceased to pray for him1 welcomed his arrival among them with the greatest joy4 ,he reached ,dundee on a ,thursday afternoon2 and in the evening of the same day1--being the usual time for prayer in ,st4 ,peter's1--after a short meditation1 he hastened to the church1 there to render thanks to the ,lord1 and to speak once more to his flock4 ,the appearance of the church that evening1 and the aspect of the people1 he never could forget4 ,many of his brethren were present to welcome him1 and to hear the first words of his opened lips4 ,there was not a seat in the church unoccupied1 the passages were completely filled1 and the stairs up to the pulpit were crowded1 on the one side with the aged1 on the other with eagerly-listening children4 ,many a face was seen anxiously gazing on their restored pastor2 many were weeping under the unhealed wounds of conviction2 all were still and calm1 intensely earnest to hear4 ,he gave out ,psalm #ff2 and the manner of singing1 which had been remarked since the ,revival began1 appeared to him peculiarly sweet1--so tender and affecting1 as if the people felt that they were praising a present ,god4 ,after solemn prayer with them1 he was able to preach for above an hour4 ,not knowing how long he might be permitted to proclaim the glad tidings1 he seized that opportunity1 not to tell of his journeyings1 but to show the way of life to sinners4 ,his subject was ,i ,cor4 #b4 #a-d1--the matter1 the manner1 and the accompaniments of ,paul's preaching4 ,it was a night to be remembered4 ,on coming out of the church1 he found the road to his house crowded with old and young1 who were waiting to welcome him back4 ,he had to shake hands with many at the same time2 and before this happy multitude would disperse1 had to speak some words of life to them again1 and pray with them where they stood4 ,to thy name4 ,o ,lord1 said he that night1 when he returned to his home1 ,to thy name1 ,o ,lord1 be all the glory6 ,a month afterwards1 he was visited by one who had hitherto stood out against all the singular influence of the ,revival1 but who that night was deeply awakened under his words1 so that the arrow festered in her soul1 till she came crying1 ,oh my hard1 hard heart6 ,on the ,sabbath he preached to his flock in the afternoon4 ,he chose ,,ii ,chron4 #e3ac1 #ad1 as his subject2 and in the close1 his hearers remember well how affectionately and solemnly he said3 ,dearly beloved and longed for1 ,i now begin another year of my ministry among you2 and ,i am resolved1 if ,god give me health and strength1 that ,i will not let a man1 woman1 or child among you alone1 until you have at least heard the testimony of ,god concerning his ,son1 either to your condemnation or salvation4 ,and ,i will pray1 as ,i have done before1 that if the ,lord will indeed give us a great outpouring of his ,spirit1 ,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 work1 and not man's4 ,i think ,i may say to you1 as ,rutherford said to his people1 ',your heaven would be two heavens to me4' ,and if the ,lord be pleased to give me a crown from among you1 ,i do here promise in his sight1 that ,i will cast it at his feet1 saying1 ',worthy is the ,lamb that was slain6 ,blessing1 and honor1 and glory1 and power1 be unto ,him that sitteth upon the throne1 and to the ,lamb forever and ever4' ,it was much feared for a time that a jealous spirit would prevail among the people of ,st4 ,peter's1 some saying1 ,i am of ,paul2 and others1 ,i of ,cephas4 ,those recently converted were apt to regard their spiritual father in a light in which they could regard none besides4 ,but ,mr4 ,m',cheyne had received from the ,lord a holy disinterestedness that suppressed every feeling of envy4 ,many wondered at the single-heartedness he was enabled to exhibit4 ,he could sincerely say1 ,i have no desire but the salvation of my people1 by whatever instrument4 ,never1 perhaps1 was there one placed in better circumstances for testing the ,revival impartially1 and seldom has any ,revival been more fully tested4 ,he came among a people whose previous character he knew2 he found a work wrought among them during his absence1 in which he had not had any direct share2 he returned home to go out and in among them1 and to be a close observer of all that had taken place2 and after a faithful and prayerful examination1 he did most unhesitatingly say1 that the ,lord had wrought great things1 whereof he was glad2 and in the case of many of those whose souls were saved in that ,revival1 he discovered remarkable answers to the prayers of himself1 and of those who had come to the truth1 before he left them4 ,he wrote to me his impressions of the work1 when he had been a few weeks among his people3-- ,dec4 #b1 #ahci4 ,rev4 ,and4 ,a4 ,bonar1 ,collace4 ,my ,dear ,a41--,i begin upon note-paper1 because ,i have no other on hand but our thin travelling paper4 ,i have much to tell you1 and to praise the ,lord for4 ,i am grieved to hear that there are no marks of the ,spirit's work about ,collace during your absence2 but if ,satan drive you to your knees1 he will soon find cause to repent it4 ,remember how fathers do to their children when they ask bread4 ,how much more shall our heavenly ,father give 7,greek3 hagatha7 all good things to them that ask ,him4 ,remember the rebuke which ,i once got from old ,mr4 ,dempster of ,denny1 after preaching to his people3 ',i was highly pleased with your discourse1 but in prayer it struck me that you thought ,god unwilling to give4' ,remember ,daniel3 ',at the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth4' ,and do not think you are forgotten by me as long as ,i have health and grace to pray4 ,everything here ,i have found in a state better than ,i expected4 ,the night ,i arrived ,i preached to such a congregation as ,i never saw before4 ,i do not think another person could have got into the church1 and there was every sign of the deepest and tenderest emotion4 ,r4 ,macdonald was with me1 and prayed4 ,affliction and success in the ministry have taught and quickened him4 ,i preached on ,i ,cor4 #b3a-d1 and felt what ,i have often heard1 that it is easy to preach where the ,spirit of ,god is4 ,on the ,friday night ,mr4 ,burns preached4 ,on the ,sabbath ,i preached on that wonderful passage1 ,,ii ,chron4 #e3ac1 #ad2 ,mr4 ,burns preached twice1 morning and evening4 ,his views of divine truth are clear and commanding4 ,there is a great deal of substance in what he preaches1 and his manner is very powerful1--so much so1 that he sometimes made me tremble4 ,in private he is deeply prayerful1 and seems to feel his danger of falling into pride4 ,i have seen many of the awakened1 and many of the saved2 indeed1 this is a pleasant place compared with what it was once4 ,some of the awakened are still in the deepest anxiety and distress4 ,their great error is exactly what your brother ,horace told me4 ,they think that coming to ,christ is some strange act of their mind1 different from believing what ,god has said of his ,son2 so much so1 that they will1 tell you with one breath1 ,i believe all that4 ,god has said1 and yet with the next complain that they cannot come to ,christ1 or close with ,christ4 ,it is very hard to deal with this delusion4 ,i find some old people deeply shaken2 they feel insecure4 ,one confirmed drunkard has come to me1 and is1 ,i believe1 now a saved man4 ,some little children are evidently saved4 ,all that ,i have yet seen are related to converts of my own4 ,one1 eleven years old1 is a singular instance of divine grace4 ,when ,i asked if she desired to be made holy1 she said1 ',indeed1 ,i often wish ,i was awa1 that ,i might sin nae mair4' ,a4,l41 of fifteen1 is a fine tender-hearted believer4 ,w4,s41 ten1 is also a happy boy4 ,many of my own dear children in the ,lord are much advanced2 much more full of joy1--their hearts lifted up in the ways of the ,lord4 ,i have found many more savingly impressed under my own ministry than ,i knew of4 ,some have come to tell me4 ,in one case a whole family saved4 ,i have hardly met with anything to grieve me4 ,surely the ,lord hath dealt bountifully with me4 ,i fear1 however1 that the great ,spirit has in some measure passed by1--,i hope soon to return in greater power than ever4 ,the week meetings are thinner now4 ,i will turn two of them into my classes soon1 and so give solid1 regular instruction1 of which they stand greatly in need4 ,i have not met with one case of extravagance or false fire1 although doubtless there may be many4 ,at first they used to follow in a body to our house1 and expected many an address and prayer by the road4 ,they have given up this now4 ,i preached last ,sabbath twice1 first on ,isaiah #bh3ad-ah1 and then on ,rev4 #ab3aa1 ',overcame by the blood of the ,lamb4' ,it was a very solemn day4 ,the people willingly sat till it was dark4 ,many make it a place of ,bochim4 ,still there is nothing of the power which has been4 ,i have tried to persuade ,mr4 ,burns to stay with us1 and ,i think he will remain in ,dundee4 ,i feel fully stronger in body than when ,i left you4 ,instead of exciting me1 there is everything to solemnize and still my feelings4 ,eternity sometimes seems very near4 ,i would like your advice about prayer-meetings2 how to consolidate them2 what rules should be followed1 if any2 whether there should be mere reading of the word and prayer1 or free converse also on the passage8 ,we began to-day a ministerial prayer-meeting1 to be held every ,monday at eleven1 for an hour and a half4 ,this is a great comfort1 and may be a great blessing4 ,of course we do not invite the colder ministers2 that would only damp our meeting4 ,tell me if you think this right4 ,and now1 dear ,a41 ,i must be done1 for it is very late4 ,may your people share in the quickening that has come over ,dundee6 ,i feel it a very powerful argument with many3 ',will you be left dry when others are getting drops of heavenly dew8' ,try this with your people4 ,i think it probable we shall have another communion again before the regular one4 ,it seems very desirable4 ,you will come and help us2 and perhaps ,horace too4 ,i thought of coming back by ,collace from ,errol1 if our ,glasgow meeting had not come in the way4 ,will you set agoing your ,wednesday meeting again1 immediately8 ,farewell1 dear ,a4 ',oh man1 greatly beloved1 fear not2 peace be to thee2 be strong2 yea1 be strong4' ,yours ever1 etc4 ,to ,mr4 ,burns he thus expresses himself on ,december #ai3 ,my dear ,brother1--,i shall never be able to thank you for all your labors among the precious souls committed to me2 and what is worse1 ,i can never thank ,god fully for his kindness and grace1 which every day appear to me more remarkable4 ,he has answered prayer to me in all that has happened1 in a way which ,i have never told any one4 ,again1 on the #cast3 ,stay where you are1 dear brother1 as long as the ,lord has any work for you to do4#af ,if ,i know my own heart1 its only desire is that ,christ may be glorified1 by souls flocking to ,him1 and abiding in ,him1 and reflecting his image2 and whether it be in ,perth or ,dundee1 should signify little to us4 ,you know ,i told you my mind plainly1 that ,i thought the ,lord had so blessed you in ,dundee1 that you were called to a fuller and deeper work there2 but if the ,lord accompanies you to other places1 ,i have nothing to object4 ,the ,lord strengthened my body and soul last ,sabbath1 and my spirit also was glad4 ,the people were much alive in the ,lord's service4 ,but oh6 dear brother1 the most are ,christless still4 ,the rich are almost untroubled4 #af ,mr ,burns was at that time in ,perth1 and there had begun to be some movement among the dry bones4 ,his evidence on this subject is given fully in his answers to the queries put by a ,committee of the ,aberdeen ,presbytery2 and in a note to a friend1 he incidentally mentions a pleasing result of this wide-spread awakening3 ,i find many souls saved under my own ministry1 whom ,i never knew of before4 ,they are not afraid to come out now1 it has become so common a thing to be concerned about the soul4 ,at that time1 also1 many came from a distance2 one came from the north1 who had been a year in deep distress of soul1 to seek ,christ in ,dundee4 ,in his brief diary he records1 on ,december #c1 that twenty anxious souls had that night been conversing with him2 many of them very deeply interesting4 ,he occasionally fixed an evening for the purpose of meeting with those who were awakened2 and in one of his note-books there are at least four hundred visits recorded1 made to him by inquiring souls1 in the course of that and the following years4 ,he observed1 that those who had been believers formerly had got their hearts enlarged1 and were greatly established2 and some seemed able to feed upon the truth in a new manner1--as when one related to him how there had for some time appeared a glory in the reading of the word in public1 quite different from reading it alone4 ,at the same time he saw backslidings1 both among those whom believers had considered really converted1 and among those who had been deeply convicted1 though never reckoned among the really saved4 ,he notes in his book3 ,called to see ----4 ,poor lad1 he seems to have gone back from ,christ1 led away by evil company4 ,and yet ,i felt sure of him at one time4 ,what blind creatures ministers are6 man looketh at the outward appearance4 ,one morning he was visited by one of his flock1 proposing a concert for prayer on the following ,monday1 in behalf of those who had fallen back1 that ,god's ,spirit might re-awaken them1--so observant were the believers as well as their pastor of declensions4 ,among those who were awakened1 but never truly converted1 he mentions one case4 ,jan4 #i1 #ahdj4--,met with the case of one who had been frightened during the late work1 so that her bodily health was injured4 ,she seems to have no care now about her soul4 ,it has only filled her mouth with evil-speaking4 ,that many1 who promised fair1 drew back and walked no more with ,jesus1 is true4 ,out of about #hjj souls who1 during the months of the ,revival1 conversed with different ministers in apparent anxiety1 no wonder surely if many proved to have been impressed only for a time4 ,president ,edwards considered it likely that1 in such cases1 the proportion of real conversions might resemble the proportion of blossoms in spring1 and fruit in autumn4 ,nor can anything be more unreasonable than to doubt the truth of all1 because of the deceit of some4 ,the world itself does not so act in judging of its own4 ,the world reckons upon the possibility of being mistaken in many cases1 and yet does not cease to believe that there is honesty and truth to be found4 ,one of themselves1 a poet of their own1 has said with no less justice than beauty-- ,angels are bright still1 though the brightest fell2 ,and though foul things put on the brows of grace1 ,yet grace must still look so4 ,but1 above all1 we have the authority of the word of ,god1 declaring that such backslidings are the very tests of the true church3 ,for there must be also heresies among you1 that they which are approved may be made manifest among you1 ,i ,cor4 #aa3ai4 ,it is not1 however1 meant that any who had really believed went back to perdition4 ,on the contrary1 it is the creed of every sound evangelical church1 that those who do go back to perdition were persons who never really believed in ,jesus4 ,their eyes may have been opened to see the dread realities of sin and of the wrath to come2 but if they saw not righteousness for their guilty souls in the ,saviour1 there is nothing in all ,scripture to make us expect that they will continue awake4 ,awake1 them that sleepest1 and ,christ will give thee light1 is the call--inviting sinners to a point far beyond mere conviction4 ,one who1 for a whole year1 went back to folly1 said3 ',your sermon on the corruption of the heart made me despair1 and so ,i gave myself up to my old ways--attending dances1 learning songs1 etc4 ,a knowledge of our guilt1 and a sense of danger1 will not of themselves keep us from falling2 nay1 these1 if alone1 may 7as in the above case7 thrust us down the slippery places4 ,we are truly secure only when our eye is on ,jesus1 and our hand locked in his hand4 ,so that the history of backslidings1 instead of leading us to doubt the reality of grace in believers1 will only be found to teach us two great lessons1 viz4 the vast importance of pressing immediate salvation on awakened souls1 and the reasonableness of standing in doubt of all1 however deep their convictions1 who have not truly fled to the hope set before them4 ,there was another ground of prejudice against the whole work1 arising from the circumstance that the ,lord had employed in it young men not long engaged in the work of the ministry1 rather than the fathers in ,israel4 ,but herein it was that sovereign grace shone forth the more conspicuously4 ,do such objectors suppose that ,god ever intends the honor of man in a work of ,revival8 ,is it not the honor of his own name that ,he seeks8 ,had it been his wish to give the glory to man at all1 then indeed it might have been asked1 ,why does ,he pass by the older pastors1 and call for the inexperienced youth8 ,but when sovereign grace was coming to bless a region in the way that would redound most to the glory of the ,lord1 can we conceive a wiser plan than to use the sling of ,david in bringing down the ,philistine8 ,if1 however1 there be some whose prejudice is from the root of envy1 let such hear the remonstrance of ,richard ,baxter to the jealous ministers of his day4 ,what6 malign ,christ in gifts for which ,he should have the glory1 and all because they seem to hinder our glory6 ,does not every man owe thanks to ,god for his brethren's gifts1 not only as having himself part in them1 as the foot has the benefit of the guidance of the eye1 but also because his own ends may be attained by his brethren's gifts as well as by his own8444 ,a fearful thing that any man1 that hath the least of the fear of ,god1 should so envy at ,god's gifts1 that he would rather his carnal hearers were unconverted1 and the drowsy not awakened1 than that it should be done by another who may be preferred before them4#ag #ag ,reformed ,pastor1 #d3b4 ,the work of the ,spirit went on1 the stream flowing gently2 for the heavy showers had fallen1 and the overflowing of the waters had passed by4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne became more than ever vigilant and discriminating in dealing with souls4 ,observing1 also1 that some were influenced more by feelings of strong attachment to their pastor personally1 than by the power of the truths he preached1 he became more reserved in his dealings with them1 so that some thought there was a little coldness or repulsiveness in his manner4 ,if there did appear anything of this nature to some1 certainly it was no indication of diminished compassion2 but1 on the contrary1 proceeded from a scrupulous anxiety to guard others against the deceitful feelings of their own souls4 ,a few notes of his work occur at this period4 ,nov4 #bg1 #ahci4--;,a pleasant meeting in the ,cross ,church on ,wednesday last1 for the seamen4 ,all that spoke seemed to honor the ,saviour4 ,i had to move thanksgiving to ,god for his mercies4 ,this has been a real blessing to ,dundee4 ,it should not be forgotten in our prayers and thanksgivings4 ,nov4 #bh1 ,thursday evening4--,much comfort in speaking4 ,there was often an awful stillness4 ,spoke on ,jer4 #f3ad3 ',they have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly4' etc4 ,dec4 #a4--,this evening came a tender ,christian1 so far as ,i can see2 an exposition of that text1 ',i will go softly1' or of that other1 ',thou shall not open thy mouth any more4' ,a child of shame made one of honor4 ,her sister was awakened under ,mr4 ,baxter's words in ,st4 ,peter's1 of whom he asked1 ',would you like to be holy8' ,she replied1 ',indeed1 ,i often wish ,i were dead that ,i might sin no more4' ,dec4 #c4--,preached six times within these two days4 ,dec4 #h4--,saw ,j4,t4 in fever4 ,she seems really in ,christ now2 tells me how deeply my words sank into her soul when ,i was away4 ,a4,m4 stayed to tell me her joy4 ,j4,b4 walked home with me1 telling me what ,god had done for his soul1 when one day ,i had stopped at the quarry on account of a shower of rain1 and took shelter with my pony in the engine-house4 ,he had simply pointed to the fire of the furnace1 and said1 ,what does that remind you of8 and the words had remained deep in the man's soul4 ,dec4 #aa4--;,a woman awakened that night ,i preached in ,j4,d4's green1 about two years ago1 on ,ezek4 #bj3dc4 ,for twenty years she had been out of church privileges1 and now1 for the first time1 came trembling to ask restoration4 ,surely ,immanuel is in this place1 and even old sinners are flocking to ,him4 ,i have got an account of about twenty prayer-meetings connected with my flock4 ,many open ones2 many fellowship meetings2 only one or two have anything like exhortation superadded to the word4 ,these1 ,i think1 it must be our care to change1 if possible1 lest error and pride creep in4 ,the only other difficulty is this4 ,in two of the female meetings1 originally fellowship meetings1 anxious female inquirers have been admitted4 ,they do not pray1 but only hear4 ,in one1 ,m4 and ,j4 had felt the rising of pride to a great degree2 in the other1 ,m4 could not be persuaded that there was any danger of pride4 ,this case will require prayerful deliberation4 ,my mind at present is1 that there is great danger from it1 the praying members feeling themselves on a different level from the others1 and anything like female teaching1 as a public teacher1 seems clearly condemned in the word of ,god4 ,dec4 #ab4--;,felt very feeble all day1 and as if ,i could not do any more work in the vineyard4 ,evening4--,felt more of the reality of ,immanuel's intercession4 ,the people also were evidently subdued by more than a human testimony4 ,one soul waited1 sobbing most piteously4 ,she could give no more account of herself than that she was a sinner1 and did not believe that ,god would be merciful to her4 ,when ,i showed how ,i found mercy1 her only answer was1 ',but you were not sic a sinner as me4' ,dec4 #ah4--,went to ,glasgow along with ,a4,b4 ,preached in ,st4 ,george's to a full audience1 in the cause of the ,jews4 ,felt real help in time of need4 ,this was one of his many journeys from place to place in behalf of ,israel1 relating the things seen and heard among the ,jews of ,palestine and other lands4 ,dec4 #bb4--,preached in ,anderston ,church1 with a good deal of inward peace and comfort4 ,dec4 #bc4--;,interesting meeting with the ,jewish ,committee4 ,in the evening met a number of ,god's people4 ,the horror of some good people in ,glasgow at the millenarian views is very great1 while at the same time their objections appear very weak4 ,dec4 #ca4--,young communicants4 ,two have made application to be admitted under eleven years of age2 four that are only fourteen2 three who are fifteen or sixteen4 ,jan4 #a1 #ahdj4--;,awoke early by the kind providence of ,god1 and had uncommon freedom and fervency in keeping the concert for prayer this morning before light4 ,very touching interview with ,m4,p41 who still refuses to be comforted4 ,was enabled to cry after a glorious ,immanuel along with her4 ,how ,i wish ,i had her bitter convictions of sin6 ,another called this evening1 who says she was awakened and brought to ,christ during the sermon on the morning of ,december #ast1 on the ',covenant with death4' ,gave clear answers1 but seems too unmoved for one really changed4 ,jan4 #b4--,visited six families4 ,was refreshed and solemnized at each of them4 ,spoke of the ,word made flesh1 and of all the paths of the ,lord being mercy and truth4 ,visited in the evening by some interesting souls3 one a believing little boy2 another complaining she cannot come to ,christ for the hardness of her heart2 another once awakened under my ministry1 again thoroughly awakened and brought to ,christ under ,horace ,bonar's sermon at the ,communion4 ,she is the only saved one in her family1--awfully persecuted by father and mother4 ,lord1 stand up for thine own6 ,make known1 by their constancy under suffering1 the power and beauty of thy grace6 ,evening4--,mr4 ,miller preached delightfully on ',the love of ,christ constraineth us4' ,his account of the ,protestants of ,france was very interesting3 the work of ,god at ,nismes1 where it is said they are no more fishing with line1 but dragging with the nets4 ,read a letter from ,mr4 ,cumming1 describing the work at ,perth1 and entreating the prayers of ,god's children4 ,this last reference is to the awakening which took place in ,st4 ,leonard's ,church1 ,perth1 on the last night of the year1 when ,mr4 ,burns1 along with their pastor1 ,mr4 ,milne1 was preaching4 ,mr4 ,b4 had intended to return to ,dundee for the ,sabbath1 but was detained by the plain indications of the ,lord's presence4 ,at one meeting the work was so glorious1 that one night about #aej persons at one time seemed bowed down under a sense of their guilt1 and above #bjj came next day to the church in the forenoon to converse about their souls4 ,this awakening was the commencement of a solid work of grace1 both in that town and its neighborhood1 much fruit of which is to be found there at this day in souls that are walking in the fear of the ,lord1 and the comfort of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,and it was in the spring of this same year that in ,collace1 at our weekly prayer-meeting1 when two brethren were ministering1 we received a blessed shower from the ,lord4 ,his ,journal proceeds3-- ,jan4 #c4--;,an inquirer came1 awakened under my ministry two years and a half ago4 ,jan4 #e4--,two came2 ,m4,b4 sorely wounded with the forenoon's discourse4 ,jan4 #ab4--;,intimated a concert for prayer1 that unworthy communicants might be kept back1 the ,lord's children prepared for the feast1 and ministers furnished from on high4 ,jan4 #ac4--,kept concert of prayer this morning with my dear people4 ,did not find the same enlargement as usual4 ,march #e4 ,thursday evening4--,preached on ,zech4 #c4--;,joshua4 ,was led to speak searchingly about making ,christ the minister of sin4 ,one young woman cried aloud very bitterly4 ,m4,b4 came to tell me that poor ,m4 is like to have her life taken away by her parents4 ,a young woman also1 who is still concerned and persecuted by her father4 ,a young man came to tell me that he had found ,christ4 ,roll on1 thou river of life6 visit every dwelling6 save a multitude of souls4 ,come1 ,holy ,spirit6 come quickly6 ,march #be4--,last night at ,forfar speaking for ,israel to a small band of friends of the ,jews4 ,fearfully wicked place2 the cry of it ascends up before ,god like that of ,sodom4 ,march #ca4--,met with young communicants on ,wednesday and ,friday4 ,on the latter night especially1 very deep feeling1 manifested in sobbings4 ,visits of several4 ,one clear child nine years old4 ,sick-bed4 ,april #a4--,presbytery day4 ,passed the constitution of two new churches1--blessed be ,god6 may ,he raise up faithful pastors for them both1--,dudhope and ,wallace-,feus4 ,proposal also for the ,mariner's ,church4 ,a fast-day fixed for the present state of the church4 ,april #e1 ,sabbath evening4--,spoke to twenty-four young persons1 one by one2 almost all affected about their souls4 ,april #f4--,lovely ride and meditation in a retired grove4 ,april #g4--;,impressed to-night with the complete necessity of preaching to my people in their own lanes and closes2 in no other way will ,god's word ever reach them4 ,to-night spoke in ,st4 ,andrew's ,church to a very crowded assembly in behalf of ,israel4 ,was helped to speak plainly to their own consciences4 ,lord1 bless it6 ,shake this town6 ,april #ac4--,spoke in private to nearly thirty young communicants1 all in one room1 going round each1 and advising for the benefit of all4 ,april #bb4--,rode to ,collessie 7,fife7 and ,kirkcaldy4 ,sweet time alone in ,collessie woods4 ,july #cj4--,one lad came to me in great distress1 wishing to know if he should confess his little dishonesties to his master4 ,about this time1 he has noted down1 ,i was visiting the other day1 and came to a locked door4 ,what did this mean8 ',torment me not1 torment me not6' ,ah1 ,satan is mighty still6--referring to ,mark #e3g4 ,a few of his ,communion seasons are recorded4 ,we could have desired a record of them all4 ,the first of which he has detailed any particulars1 is the one he enjoyed soon after returning home4 ,jan4 #ai1 #ahdj4--,stormy morning1 with gushing torrents of rain1 but cleared up in answer to prayer4 ,sweet union in prayer with ,mr4 ,cumming1 and afterwards with ,a4 ,bonar1 ,found ,god in secret4 ,asked especially that the very sight of the broken bread and poured-out wine might be blessed to some souls1 then pride will be hidden from man4 ,church well filled--many standing4 ,preached the action sermon on ,john #ag3bd1 ',father1 ,i will1' etc4 ,had considerable nearness to ,god in prayer--more than usual1--and also freedom in preaching1 although ,i was ashamed of such poor views of ,christ's glory4 ,the people were in a very desirable frame of attention--hanging on the word4 ,felt great help in fencing the tables from ,acts #e3c1 ',lying to the ,holy ,ghost4' ,came down and served the first table with much more calmness and collectedness than ever ,i remember to have enjoyed4 ,enjoyed a sweet season while ,a4,b4 served the next table4 ,he dwelt chiefly on believing the words of ,christ about his fulness1 and the promise of the ,father4 ,there were six tables altogether4 ,the people more and more moved to the end4 ,at the last table1 every head seemed bent like a bulrush while ,a4,b4 spoke of the ascension of ,christ4 ,helped a little in the address4 ',now to ,him who is able to keep you1' etc41 and in the concluding prayer4#ah ,one little boy1 in retiring1 said1 ',this has been another bonnie day4' ,many of the little ones seemed deeply attentive4 ,mr4 ,cumming and ,mr4 ,burns preached in the school the most of the day4 ,in the evening ,mr4 ,c4 preached on the ,pillar ,cloud on every dwelling1 ,isaiah #d3e some very sweet powerful words4 ,mr4 ,burns preached in the schoolroom4 ,when the church emptied a congregation formed in the lower school1 and began to sing4 ,sang several psalms with them1 and spoke on ',behold ,i stand at the door4' ,going home1 ,a4,l4 said ',pray for me2 ,i am quite happy1 and so is ,h4' ,altogether a day of the revelation of ,christ1--a sweet day to myself1 and1 ,i am persuaded1 to many souls4 ,lord1 make us meet for the table above4 #ah ,see the ,remains1 for some of that day's solemn words4 ,another of these ,communion seasons recorded1 is ,april #ahdj4 ,sabbath #ai4--,sweet and precious day4 ,preached action sermon on ,zech4 #ab3aj1 #ac3a4 ,a good deal assisted4 ,also in fencing the tables1 on ,ps4 #aci41 ',search me1 ,o ,god4' ,less at serving the tables on ',i will betroth thee1' and ',to him that overcometh2' though the thanksgiving was sweet4 ,communicated with calm joy4 ,old ,mr4 ,burns served two tables2 ,h4 ,bonar five4 ,there was a very melting frame visible among the people4 ,helped a good deal in the address on ',my sheep hear my voice4' ,after seven before all was over4 ,met before eight4 ,old ,mr4 ,burns preached on ',a word in season4' ,gave three parting texts1 and so concluded this blessed day4 ,many were filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 ,monday1 #bj4--,mr4 ,grierson preached on ',ye are come to ,mount ,zion1'--an instructive word4 ,pleasant walk with ,h4,b4 ,evening sermon from him to the little children on the 'new heart1'--truly delightful4 ,prayer-meeting after4 ,i began2 then old ,mr4 ,burns1 then ,horace1 in a very lively manner1 on the 'woman of ,samaria4' ,the people were brought into a very tender frame4 ,after the blessing1 a multitude remained4 ,one 7,a4,n47 was like a person struck through with a dart1 she could neither stand nor go4 ,many were looking on her with faces of horror4 ,others were comforting her in a very kind manner1 bidding her look to ,jesus4 ,mr4 ,burns went to the desk1 and told them of ,kilsyth4 ,still they would not go away4 ,spoke a few words more to those around me1 telling them of the loveliness of ,christ1 and the hardness of their hearts1 that they could be so unmoved when one was so deeply wounded4 ,the sobbing soon spread1 till many heads were bent down1 and the church was filled with sobbing4 ,many whom ,i did not know were now affected4 ,after prayer1 we dismissed1 near midnight4 ,many followed us4 ,one1 in great agony1 prayed that she might find ,christ that very night4 ,so ends this blessed season4 ,the prayer-meeting on the ,monday evening following the ,communion was generally enjoyed by all the ,lord's people1 and by the ministers who assisted1 in a peculiar manner4 ,often all felt the last day of the feast to be the great day4 ,souls that had been enjoying the feast were then1 at its conclusion1 taking hold on the arm of the ,beloved in the prospect of going up through the wilderness4 ,the only notice of his last ,communion1 ,january #a1 #ahdc1 is the following3--,sabbath4--,a happy communion season4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,burns preached on ,tuesday1 ,wednesday1 and ,thursday evenings--the first and last very solemn4 ,mr4 ,baxter 7of ,hilltown ,church7 on the ,friday4 ,a4 ,bonar on ,saturday1 on ,rom4 #h3--,the spirit of adoption4 ,i fainted on the ,sabbath morning1 but revived1 and got grace and strength to preach on ,i ,tim4 #a3af--,paul's conversion a pattern4 ,there were five tables4 ,many godly strangers1 and a very desirable frame observable in the people4 ',while the king sitteth at his table1 my spikenard sendeth out the smell thereof4' ,much sin was covered4 ,he restoreth my soul4 ,monday1 #b4--,mr4 ,milne 7of ,perth7 preached on ',hold fast that thou hast2' and in the evening1 to the children1 on ,josh4 #bd4--';,choose ye this day whom ye will serve4' ,andrew and ,i concluded with ,rev4 #e--',thou hast redeemed us1' etc41 and ,i ,cor4 #ae4--';,be stedfast1' etc4 ,he dispensed the ,lord's ,supper to his flock every quarter2 and though on this account his calls upon his brethren for help were frequent1 yet never did a brother reckon it anything else than a blessed privilege to be with him4 ,his first invitation to his friend ,mr4 ,hamilton 7then at ,abernyte7 will show the nature of the intercourse that subsisted between him and his brethren who gave their services on these occasions3--,my dear ,friend4--,will you excuse lack of ceremony1 and come down to-morrow and preach to us the unsearchable riches of ,christ8 ,we have the communion on ,sabbath4 ,we have no fast-day1 but only a meeting in the evening at a quarter past seven4 ,come1 my dear sir1 if you can1 and refresh us with your company4 ,bring the fragrance of 'the bundle of myrrh' along with you1 and may grace be poured into your lips4 ,yours ever4 7,jan4 #ae4 #ahdj47 ,soon after his return from his mission to the ,jews1 a ministerial prayer-meeting was formed among some of the brethren in ,dundee4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne took part in it1 along with ,mr4 ,lewis of ,st4 ,david's1 ,mr4 ,baxter of ,hilltown1 ,mr4 ,p4,l4 ,miller1 afterwards of ,wallacetown1 and others4 ,feeling deep concern for the salvation of the souls under their care1 they met every ,monday forenoon1 to pray together for their flocks and their own souls4 ,the time of the meeting was limited to an hour and a half1 in order that all who attended might form their pastoral arrangements for the day1 without fear of being hindered2 and1 in addition to prayer1 those present conversed on some selected topic1 vitally connected with their duties as ministers of ,christ4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was never absent from this prayer-meeting unless through absolute necessity1 and the brethren scarcely remember any occasion on which some important remark did not drop from his lips4 ,he himself reaped great profit from it4 ,he notes1 ,dec4 #h3 ,this has been a deeply interesting week4 ,on ,monday our ministerial prayer-meeting was set agoing in ,st4 ,david's vestry4 ,the hearts of all seem really in earnest in it4 ,the ,lord answers prayer2 may it be a great blessing to our souls and to our flocks4 ,another time3 ,meeting in ,st4 ,david's vestry4 ,the subject of fasting was spoken upon4 ,felt exceedingly in my own spirit how little we feel real grief on account of sin before ,god1 or we would often lose our appetite for food4 ,when parents lose a child1 they often do not taste a bit from morning to night1 out of pure grief4 ,should we not mourn as for an only child8 ,how little of the spirit of grace and supplication we have then6 ,on ,dec4 #cj3 ,pleasant meeting of ministers4 ,many delightful texts on ',arguments to be used with ,god in prayer4' ,how little ,i have used these6 ,should we not study prayer more8 ,full as he was of affection and ,christian kindness to all believers1 he was specially so to the faithful brethren in the gospel of ,christ4 ,perhaps there never was one who more carefully watched against the danger of undervaluing precious men1 and detracting from a brother's character4 ,although naturally ambitious1 grace so wrought in him1 that he never sought to bring himself into view2 and most cheerfully would he observe and take notice of the graces and gifts of others4 ,who is there of us that should ever feel otherwise8 ,for the body is not one member1 but many4 ,and the eye cannot say unto the hand1 ,i have no need of thee2 nor1 again1 the head to the feet1 ,i have no need of you4 ,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 from4 ,to ,mr4 ,w4,c4 ,burns he wrote1 ,dec4 #ca1 #ahci3 ,now1 the ,lord be your strength1 teacher1 and guide4 ,i charge you1 be clothed with humility1 or you will yet be a wandering star1 for which is reserved the blackness of darkness forever4 ,let ,christ increase2 let man decrease4 ,this is my constant prayer for myself and you4 ,if you lead sinners to yourself and not to ,christ1 ,immanuel will cast the star out of his right hand into utter darkness4 ,remember what ,i said of preaching out of the ,scriptures3 honor the word both in the matter and manner4 ,do not cease to pray for me4 ,at another time 7,november #c1 #ahda71 he thus wrote to the same friend3 ,now remember ,moses wist not that the skin of his face shone4 ,looking at our own shining face is the bane of the spiritual life and of the ministry4 ,oh for closest communion with ,god1 till soul and body--head1 face1 and heart--shine with divine brilliancy6 but oh for a holy ignorance of our shining6 ,pray for this2 for you need it as well as ,i4 ,to another friend in the ministry who had written to him despondingly about his people and the times1 his reply was1 ,i am sure there never was a time when the ,spirit of ,god was more present in ,scotland1 and it does not become you to murmur in your tents1 but rather to give thanks4 ,remember1 we may grieve the ,spirit as truly by not joyfully acknowledging his wonders as by not praying for ,him4 ,there is the clearest evidence that ,god is saving souls in ,kilsyth1 ,dundee1 ,perth1 ,collace1 ,blairgowrie1 ,strathbogie1 ,ross-shire1 ,breadalbane1 ,kelso1 ,jedburgh1 ,ancrum2 and surely it becomes us to say1 ',i thank my ,god upon every remembrance of you4' ,forgive my presumption2 but ,i fear lest you hurt your own peace and usefulness in not praising ,god enough for the operation of his hands4 ,to another3 ,i have told you that you needed trial1 and now it is come4 ,may you be exercised thereby1 and come to that happy 'afterwards' of which the apostle speaks1 ,to the same again ,remember the necessity of your own soul1 and do not grow slack or lean in feeding others4 ',mine own vineyard have ,i not kept4' ,ah1 take heed of that6 ,and in a similar tone of faithfulness at an after period3 ,remember the case of your own soul4 ',what will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul8' ,remember how often ,paul appeals to his holy1 just1 unblameable life4 ,oh that we may be able always to do the same6 ,remember the priming-knife1 he says to another1 and do not let your vine run to wood4 ,and after a visit to ,mr4 ,thornton of ,milnathort1 in whose parish there had been an awakening1 he asks a brother1 ,mr4 ,thornton is willing that others be blessed more than himself2 do you think that you have that grace8 ,i find that ,i am never so successful as when ,i can lie at ,christ's feet1 willing to be used or not as seemeth good in his sight4 ,do you remember ,david8 ',if the ,lord say1 ,i have no delight in thee2 behold1 here am ,i2 let ,him do to me as seemeth good unto ,him4' ,in his familiar letters1 as in his life1 there was the manifestation of a bright1 cheerful soul1 without the least tendency to levity4 ,when his medical attendant had1 on one occasion1 declined any remuneration1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne peremptorily opposed his purpose2 and to overcome his reluctance1 returned the inclosure in a letter1 in which he used his poetical gifts with most pleasant humor4 ,to many it was a subject of wonder that he found time to write letters that always breathed the name of ,jesus1 amid his innumerable engagements4 ,but the truth was1 his letters cost him no expenditure of time2 they were ever the fresh thoughts and feelings of his soul at the moment he took up the pen2 his habitual frame of soul is what appears in them all2 the calm1 holy1 tenderly affectionate style of his letters reminds us of ,samuel ,rutherford1 whose works he delighted to read1--excepting only that his joy never seems to have risen to ecstasies4 ,the selection of his letters which ,i have made for publication1 may exhibit somewhat of his holy skill in dropping a word for his ,master on all occasions4 ,but what impressed many yet more1 was his manner of introducing the truth1 most naturally and strikingly1 even in the shortest note he penned2 and there was something so elegant1 as well as solemn1 in his few words at the close of some of his letters1 that these remained deep in the receiver's heart4 ,writing to ,mr4 ,g4,s41 on ,july #bh1 #ahda1 he thus draws to a close3 ,remember me to ,h4,t4 ,i pray he may be kept abiding in ,christ4 ,kindest regards to his mother4 ,say to her from me1 ',pass the time of your sojourning here in fear1 forasmuch as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold' 7,i ,peter #a3ag1 #ah74 ,keep your own heart1 dear brother1 'in the love of ,god' 7,jude #ba7--;in his love to you1 and that will draw your love to ,him4 ,kindest remembrances to your brother4 ,say to him1 ',be sober and hope to the end' 7,i ,peter #a3ac74 ,to your own dear mother say1 ',he doth not afflict willingly4' ,write me soon4--,ever yours1 till time shall be no more4 ,in a note to the members of his own family3 ,the ,tay is before me now like a resplendent mirror1 glistening in the morning sun4 ,may the same sun shine sweetly on you1 and may ,he that makes it shine1 shine into your hearts to give you the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4--,in haste1 your affectionate son and brother4 ,there were often such last words as the following3 ,oh for drops in the pastures of the wilderness6 ,the smiles of ,jesus be with you1 and the breathings of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,ever yours4 7,to ,rev4 ,j4 ,milne47 ,may we have gales passing from ,perth to this1 and from here to you1 and from heaven to both4 ,ever yours4 7,to the same47 ,the time is short2 eternity is near2 yea1 the coming of ,christ the second time is at hand4 ,make sure of being one with the ,lord ,jesus1 that you may be glad when you see ,him4 ,commending you all to our ,father in heaven1 etc4 7,to his own brother47 ,i have a host of letters before me1 and therefore can add no more4 ,i give you a parting text1 ',sorrowful1 yet always rejoicing4' ,another3 ,farewell6 yours till the day dawn4 ,to the ,rev4 ,hor4 ,bonar he says1 at the close of a letter about some ministerial arrangements3 ,i am humbled and cheered by what you say of good done in ,kelso4 ,roll on1 roll on1 river of ,god1 that art full of water6 ,a woman came to me1 awakened under your sermon to the children in the ,cross ,church1 very bitterly convinced of sin4 ,glory to the ,divine ,archer1 who bringeth down the people6 ,he closes a letter to a student thus3 ,grace be with you1 and much of the knowledge of ,jesus--much of his likeness4 ,i thirst for the knowledge of the word but most of all of ,jesus himself1 the true ,word4 ,may ,he abide in you1 and you in ,him6 ,the ,fear of ,isaac watch over you4 ,in concluding a letter to ,mr4 ,bonar of ,larbert1 in ,february #ahdc1 some weeks before his last illness1 he writes3 ,my soul often goes out at the throne of grace in behalf of ,larbert and ,dunipace4 ,may the disruption be more blessed to them than days of peace6 ,how sweet to be in the ark when the deluge comes down6 ,ever yours in gospel bonds4 ,the ,jewish ,mission continued near his heart1 the nearest1 said he to ,mr4 ,edwards1 who is now at ,jassy1 of all missionary enterprises4 ,were it not for my own unfitness1 and also the success the ,lord has given me where ,i am1 ,i would joyfully devote myself to it4 ,in connection with this cause1 he was invited to visit ,ireland1 and be present at the meeting of the ,synod of our ,presbyterian brethren in the summer of #ahdj4 ,when preparing to set out1 he notices the hand of his ,master guiding him3--,july #b4--;,expected to have been in ,ireland this day4 ,detained by not being able to get supply for ,sabbath1 in the good providence of ,god2 for this evening there was a considerable awakening in the church while ,i was preaching upon ,phil4 #c3ah1 ',enemies of the cross of ,christ1' ,when that part was expounded1 there was a loud and bitter weeping1--probably thirty or forty seemed to share in it2 the rest deeply impressed1--many secretly praying4 ,on the ,sabbath following1 one person was so overcome as to be carried out of the church4 ,he set out for ,ireland on the #gth1 and on the #ajth witnessed at ,belfast the union between the ,synod of ,ulster and the ,secession4 ,he speaks of it as a most solemn scene--#ejj ministers and elders present4 ,during his stay there1 he pleaded the cause of the ,jews in ,mr4 ,morgan's church1 ,mr4 ,wilson's1 and some others2 and also visited ,mr4 ,kirkpatrick at ,dublin4 ,he preached the way of salvation to the ,gentiles in all his pleadings for ,israel4 ,his visit was blessed to awaken a deep interest in the cause of the ,jews1 and his words sank into the consciences of some4 ,his sermon on ,ezek4 #cd3af was felt by some to be indescribably impressive2 and when he preached on ,rom4 #a3af1 #ag1 many ministers1 as they came out1 were heard saying1 ,how was it we never thought of the duty of remembering ,israel before8 ,on another occasion1 the people to whom he had preached entreated their minister to try and get him again1 and if he could not preach to them1 that at least he should pray once more with them4 ,he was not1 however1 long absent from home on this occasion4 ,on the #beth ,i find him recording3 ,reached home2 entirely unprepared for the evening4 ,spoke on ,psalm #ea3ab1 #ac1 ',restore unto me the joy1' etc4 ,there seemed much of the presence of ,god1--first one crying out in extreme agony1 then another4 ,many were deeply melted1 and all solemnized4 ,felt a good deal of freedom in speaking of the glory of ,christ's salvation4 ,coming down1 ,i spoke quietly to some whom ,i knew to be under deep concern4 ,they were soon heard together weeping bitterly2 many more joined them4 ,mr4 ,cumming spoke to them in a most touching strain1 while ,i dealt privately with several in the vestry4 ,their cries were often very bitter and piercing1 bitterest when the freeness of ,christ was pressed upon them1 and the lion's nearness4 ,several were offended2 but ,i felt no hesitation as to our duty to declare the simple truth impressively1 and leave ,god to work in their hearts in his own way4 ,if ,he save souls in a quiet way1 ,i shall be happy2 if in the midst of cries and tears1 still ,i will bless his name4 ,one painful thing has occurred3 a man who pretends to be a missionary for ,israel1 and who brings forward the apocryphal book of ,enoch1 has been among my people in my absence1 and many have been led after him4 ,how humbling is this to them and to me6 ,lord1 what is man6 ,this may be blessed1 #ast1 to discover chaff which we thought to be wheat2 #bnd1 to lead some to greater distrust of themselves1 when their eyes are opened3 #crd1 to teach me the need of solidly instructing those who seem to have grace in their hearts4 ,the work of ,god went on1 so much so at this time1 that he gave it as his belief1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,purves of ,jedburgh1 that for some months about this period no minister of ,christ had preached in a lively manner1 without being blessed to some soul among his flock4 ,in other places of ,scotland also the ,lord was then pouring out his ,spirit4 ,perth has been already mentioned1 and its vicinity4 ,throughout ,ross-shire1 whole congregations were frequently moved as one man1 and the voice of the minister drowned in the cries of anxious souls4 ,at ,kelso1 where ,mr4 ,horace ,bonar laboured1 and at ,jedburgh1 where ,mr4 ,purves was pastor1 a more silent1 but very solid work of conversion was advancing4 ,at ,ancrum 7once the scene of ,john ,livingston's labors71 the whole parish1 but especially the men of the place1 were awakened to the most solemn concern4 ,on ,lochtayside1 where ,mr4 ,burns was for a season laboring1 there were marks of the ,spirit everywhere2 and the people crossing the lake in hundreds1 to listen to the words of life on the hillside1 called to mind the people of ,galilee in the days when the gospel began to be preached4 ,at ,lawers1 ,mr4 ,campbell1 their pastor 7who has now fallen asleep in ,jesus71 spoke of the awakening as like a resurrection4 so great and sudden was the change from deadness to intense concern4 ,on several occasions1 the ,spirit seemed to sweep over the congregations like wind over the fields1 which bends the heavy corn to the earth4 ,it was evident to discerning minds that the ,lord was preparing ,scotland for some crisis not far distant4 ,several districts of ,strathbogie had shared to some extent in a similar blessing4 ,faithful ministers were now everywhere on the watch for the shower1 and were greatly strengthened to go forward boldly in seeking to cleanse the sanctuary4 ,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 ,christ1 acknowledged and upheld by the ,state without being trammelled in any degree1 far less controlled by civil interference4 ,but ,satan was stirring up adversaries on every side4 ,the ,court of ,session had adopted a line of procedure that was at once arbitrary and unconstitutional4 ,and now that ,court interdicted1 under the penalty of fine or imprisonment1 all the ministers of the ,church of ,scotland from administering ordinances or preaching the word in any of the seven parishes of ,strathbogie1 whose former incumbents had been suspended from office by the ,general ,assembly for ecclesiastical offences4 ,the church saw it to be her duty to refuse obedience to an interdict which hindered the preaching of ,jesus1 and attempted to crush her constitutional liberties4 ,accordingly1 ministers were sent to these districts1 fearless of the result2 and under their preaching the gross darkness of the region began to give way to the light of truth4 ,in the month of ,august1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was appointed1 along with ,mr4 ,cumming of ,dumbarney1 to visit ,huntly1 and dispense the ,lord's ,supper there4 ,as he set out1 he expressed the hope1 that the dews of the ,spirit there might be turned into the pouring rain4 ,his own visit was blessed to many4 ,mr4 ,cumming preached the action sermon in the open air at the ,meadow ,well2 but the tables were served within the building where the congregation usually met4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne preached in the evening to a vast multitude at the well2 and about a hundred waited after sermon for prayer1 many of them in deep anxiety4 ,he came to ,edinburgh on the #aath1 to attend the meeting of ministers and elders who had come together to sign the ,solemn ,engagement in defence of the liberties of ,christ's church4 ,he hesitated not to put his hand to the ,engagement4 ,he then returned to ,dundee2 and scarcely had he returned1 when he was laid aside by one of those attacks of illness with which he was so often tried4 ,in this case1 however1 it soon passed away4 ,my health1 he remarked1 has taken a gracious turn1 which should make me look up4 ,but again1 on ,september #f1 an attack of fever laid him down for six days4 ,on this occasion1 just before the sickness came on1 three persons had visited him1 to tell him how they were brought to ,christ under his ministry some years before4 ,why1 he noted in his journal1 ,why has ,god brought these cases before me this week8 ,surely ,he is preparing me for some trial of faith4 ,the result proved that his conjecture was just4 ,and while his ,master prepared him beforehand for these trials1 ,he had ends to accomplish in his servant by means of them4 ,there were other trials1 also1 besides these1 which were very heavy to him2 but in all we could discern the ,husbandman pruning the branch1 that it might bear more fruit4 ,as he himself said one day in the church of ,abernyte1 when he was assisting ,mr4 ,manson1 ,if we only saw the whole1 we should see that the ,father is doing little else in the world but training his vines4 ,his preaching became more and more to him a work of faith4 ,often ,i find him writing at the close or beginning of a sermon3 ,master1 help6 ,help1 ,lord1 help6 ,send showers2 ,pardon1 give the ,spirit1 and take the glory2 ,may the opening of my lips he right things6 ,the piercing effects of the word preached on souls at this season may be judged of from what one of the awakened1 with whom he was conversing1 said to him1 ,i think hell would be some relief from an angry ,god4 ,his delight in preaching was very great4 ,he himself used to say that he could scarcely ever resist an invitation to preach4 ,and this did not arise from the natural excitement there is in commanding the attention of thousands2 for he was equally ready to proclaim ,christ to small country flocks4 ,nay1 he was ready to travel far to visit and comfort even one soul4 ,there was an occasion this year on which he rode far to give a cup of cold water to a disciple1 and his remark was1 ,i observe how often ,jesus went a long way for one soul1 as for example the maniac1 and the woman of ,canaan4 ,in ,february #ahda1 he visited ,kelso and ,jedburgh at the ,communion season2 and gladly complied with an invitation to ,ancrum also1 that he might witness the hand of the ,lord4 ,sweet are the spots1 he wrote1 where ,immanuel has ever shown his glorious power in the conviction and conversion of sinners4 ,the world loves to muse on the scenes where battles were fought and victories won4 ,should not we love the spots where our great ,captain has won his amazing victories8 ,is not the conversion of a soul more worthy to be spoken of than the taking of ,acre8 ,at ,kelso1 some will long remember his remarks in visiting a little girl1 to whom he said1 ,christ gives last knocks4 ,when your heart becomes hard and careless1 then fear lest ,christ may have given a last knock4 ,at ,jedburgh1 the impression left was chiefly that there had been among them a man of peculiar holiness4 ,some felt1 not so much his words1 as his presence and holy solemnity1 as if one spoke to them who was standing in the presence of ,god2 and to others his prayers appeared like the breathings of one already within the veil4 ,i find him proposing to a minister who was going up to the ,general ,assembly that year1 that the ,assembly should draw out a ,confession of ,sin for all its ministers4 ,the state1 also1 of parishes under the direful influence of ,moderatism1 lay much upon his spirit4 ,in his diary he writes3 ,have been laying much to heart the absolute necessity laid upon the church of sending the gospel to our dead parishes1 during the life of the present incumbents4 ,it is confessed that many of our ministers do not preach the gospel--alas6 because they know it not4 ,yet they have complete control over their own pulpits1 and may never suffer the truth to be heard there during their whole incumbency4 ,and yet our church consigns these parishes to their tender mercies for perhaps fifty years1 without a sigh6 ,should not certain men be ordained as evangelists1 with full power to preach in every pulpit of their district1--faithful1 judicious1 lively preachers1 who may go from parish to parish1 and thus carry life into many a dead corner8 ,this was a subject he often reverted to2 and he eagerly held up the example of the ,presbytery of ,aberdeen1 who made a proposal to this effect4 ,from some of his later letters1 it appears that he had sometimes seriously weighed the duty of giving up his fixed charge1 if only the church would ordain him as an evangelist4 ,so deep were his feelings on this matter1 that a friend relates of him1 that as they rode together through a parish where the pastor clothed himself with the wool1 but fed not the flock1 he knit his brow and raised his hand with vehemence as he spoke of the people left to perish under such a minister4 ,he was invited to visit ,ireland again this year1 his former visit having been much valued by the ,presbyterian brethren there4 ,he did so in ,july4 ,many were greatly stirred up by his preaching1 and by his details of ,god's work in ,scotland4 ,his sermon on ,song #h3e1 #f1 is still spoken of by many4 ,his prayerfulness and consistent holiness left enduring impressions on not a few2 and it was during his visit that a memorial was presented to the ,irish ,assembly in behalf of a ,jewish mission4 ,his visit was in a great measure the means of setting that mission on foot4 ,cordially entering into the proposal of the concert for prayer1 he took part1 in ,september of this year1 in the preliminary meetings in which ,christians of all denominations joined4 ,how sweet are the smallest approximations to unity6 is his remark in his diary4 ,indeed1 he so much longed for a scriptural unity1 that some time after1 when the ,general ,assembly had repealed the statute of #agii1 he embraced the opportunity of showing his sincere desire for unity1 by inviting two dissenting brethren to his pipit1 and then writing in defence of his conduct when attacked4 ,in reference to this matter1 he observed1 in a note to a friend3 ,i have been much delighted with the #beth and #bfth chapters of the ,confession of ,faith4 ,oh for the grace of the ,westminster divines to be poured out upon this generation of lesser men6 ,as it was evident that his ,master owned his labor abundantly1 by giving him seals of his apostleship1 there were attempts made occasionally by zealous friends to induce him to remove to other spheres4 ,in all these cases1 he looked simply at the apparent indications of the ,lord's will4 ,worldly interest seemed scarcely ever to cross his mind in regard to such a matter1 for he truly lived a disinterested life4 ,his views may be judged of by one instance1--a letter to ,mr4 ,heriot of ,ramornie1 in reference to a charge which many were anxious to offer him3-- ,dundee1 ,dec4 #bd1 #ahda ,,dear ,,sir1--,i have received a letter from my friend ,mr4 ,m',farlane of ,collessie1 asking what ,i would do if the people of ,kettle were to write desiring me to be their minister4 ,he also desires me to send an answer to you4 ,i have been asked to leave this place again and again1 but have never seen my way clear to do so4 ,i feel quite at the disposal of my ,divine ,master4 ,i gave myself away to ,him when ,i began my ministry1 and ,he has guided me as by the ,pillar ,cloud from the first day till now4 ,i think ,i would leave this place to-morrow if ,he were to bid me2 but as to seeking removal1 ,i dare not and could not4 ,if my ministry were unsuccessful1--if ,god frowned upon the place and made my message void1--then ,i would willingly go1 for ,i would rather beg my bread than preach without success2 but ,i have never wanted success4 ,i do not think ,i can speak a month in this parish without winning some souls4 ,this very week1 ,i think1 has been a fruitful one1--more so than many for a long time1 which perhaps was intended graciously to free me from all hesitation in declining your kind offer4 ,i mention these things not1 ,i trust1 boastfully1 but only to show you the ground upon which ,i feel it to be my duty not for a moment to entertain the proposal4 ,i have #djjj souls here hanging on me4 ,i have as much of this world's goods as ,i care for4 ,i have full liberty to preach the gospel night and day2 and the ,spirit of ,god is often with us4 ,what can ,i desire more8 ',i dwell among mine own people4' ,hundreds look to me as a father2 and ,i fear ,i would be but a false shepherd if ,i were to leave them when the clouds of adversity are beginning to lower4 ,i know the need of ,kettle1 and its importance2 and also the dark prospect of your getting a godly minister4 ,still that is a future event in the hand of ,god4 ,my duty is made plain and simple according to ,god's word4 ,praying that the ,lord ,jesus may send you a star from his own right hand1 believe me to be1 etc4 ,it was during this year that the ,sabbath question began to interest him so much4 ,his tract1 ,i ,love the ,lord's ,day1 was published ,december #ah2 but he had already exerted himself much in this cause1 as convener of the ,committee of ,presbytery on ,sabbath ,observance1 and had written his well-known letter to one of the chief defenders of the ,sabbath desecration4 ,he continued unceasingly to use every effort in this holy cause4 ,and is it not worth the prayers and self-denying efforts of every believing man8 ,is not that day set apart as a season wherein the ,lord desires the refreshing rest of his own love to be offered to a fallen world8 ,is it not designed to be a day on which every other voice and sound is to be hushed1 in order that the silver trumpets may proclaim atonement for sinners8 ,nay1 it is understood to be a day wherein ,god himself stands before the altar and pleads with sinners to accept the ,lamb slain1 from morning to evening4 ,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 ,saviour8 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's own conduct was in full accordance with his principles in regard to strict yet cheerful ,sabbath observance4 ,considering it the summit of human privilege to be admitted to fellowship with ,god1 his principle was1 that the ,lord's day was to be spent wholly in the enjoyment of that sweetest privilege4 ,a letter1 written at a later period1 but bearing on this subject1 will show how he felt this day to be better than a thousand4 ,an individual1 near ,inverness1 had consulted him on a point of sabbatical casuistry3 the question was1 ,whether or not it was sinful to spend time in registering meteorological observations on the ,sabbaths8 ,his reply was the following1 marked by a holy wisdom1 and discovering the place which the ,lord held in his inmost soul3-- ,dec4 #g1 #ahdb ,,dear ,,friend1--,you ask me a hard question4 ,had you asked me what ,i would do in the case1 ,i could easily tell you4 ,i love the ,lord's day too well to be marking down the height of the thermometer and barometer every hour4 ,i have other work to do1 higher and better1 and more like that of angels above4 ,the more entirely ,i can give my ,sabbaths to ,god1 and half forget that ,i am not before the throne of the ,lamb1 with my harp of gold1 the happier am ,i1 and ,i feel it my duty to be as happy as ,i can be1 and as ,god intended me to be4 ,the joy of the ,lord is my strength4 ,but whether another ,christian can spend the ,sabbath is his service1 and mark down degrees of heat and atmospherical pressure1 without letting down the warmth of his affections1 or losing the atmosphere of heaven1 ,i cannot tell4 ,my conscience is not the rule of another man4 ,one thing we may learn from these men of science1 namely1 to be as careful in marking the changes and progress of our own spirit1 as they are in marking the changes of the weather4 ,an hour should never pass without our looking up to ,god for forgiveness and peace4 ,this is the noblest science1 to know how to live in hourly communion with ,god in ,christ4 ,may you and ,i know more of this1 and thank ,god that we are not among the wise and prudent from whom these things are hid6--,the grace of the ,lord of the ,sabbath be with you1 etc4 ,up till this period1 the ,narrative of our ,mission to ,israel had not been given to the public4 ,interruptions1 arising from multiplicity of labors and constant calls of duty1 had from time to time come in our way4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne found it exceedingly difficult to spare a day or two at a time in order to take part4 ,i find it hard work to carry on the work of a diligent pastor and that of an author at the same time4 ,how ,john ,calvin would have smiled at my difficulties6 ,at length1 however1 in the month of ,march #ahdb1 we resolved to gain time by exchanging each other's pastoral duties for a month4 ,accordingly1 during four or five weeks1 he remained in ,collace1 my flock enjoying his ,sabbath-day services and his occasional visits1 while he was set free from what would have been the never-ceasing interruptions of his own town4 ,many a pleasant remembrance remains of these days1 as sheet after sheet passed under the eyes of our mutual criticism4 ,though intent on accomplishing his work1 he kept by his rule1 that he must first see the face of ,god before he could undertake any duty4 ,often would he wander in the mornings among the pleasant woods of ,dunsinnan1 till he had drunk in refreshment to his soul by meditation on the word of ,god2 and then he took up the pen4 ,and to a brother in the ministry1 who had one day broken in upon his close occupation1 he afterwards wrote3 ,you know you stole away my day2 yet ,i trust all was not lost4 ,i think ,i have had more grace ever since that prayer among the fir-trees4 ,oh to be like ,jesus1 and with him to all eternity6 ,occasionally1 during the same period1 he wrote some pieces for the ,christian's ,daily ,companion4 ,the ,narrative was finished in ,may1 and the ,lord has made it acceptable to the brethren4 ,when this work was finished1 the ,lord had other employment ready for him in his own parish4 ,his diary has this entry3 ,may #bb4--;,i have seen some very evident awakenings of late4 ,j4,g4 awakened partly through the word preached1 and partly through the faithful warnings of her fellow-servant4 ,a4,r41 who has been for about a year in the deepest distress1 seeking rest1 but finding none4 ,b4,m4 converted last winter at the ,tuesday meeting in ,annfield4 ,she was brought very rapidly to peace with ,god1 and to a calm1 sedate1 prayerful state of mind4 ,i was surprised at the quickness of the work in this case1 and pleased with the clear tokens of grace2 and now ,i see ,god's gracious end in it4 ,she was to be admitted at last communion1 but caught fever before the ,sabbath4 ,on ,tuesday last1 she died in great peace and joy4 ,when she felt death coming on1 she said1 ',oh death1 death1 come6 let us sing6' ,many that knew her have been a good deal moved homeward by this solemn providence4 ,this evening1 ,i invited those to come who are leaving the parish at this term4 ,about twenty came1 to whom ,i gave tracts and words of warning4 ,i feel persuaded that if ,i could follow the ,lord more fully myself1 my ministry would be used to make a deeper impression than it has yet done4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,latter ,,days ,,of ,,his ,,ministry4 ,my meat is to do the will of ,him that sent me1 and to finish his work4--,john #d3cd4 ,during the summer of #ahdb1 he was exposed to several attacks of illness1 experienced some severe personal trials1 and felt the assaults of sore temptation4 ,his own words will best express his state3 ,july #ag4--;,i am myself much tempted1 and have no hope1 but as a worm on the arm of ,jesus4 ,aug4 #d4--,often1 often1 would ,i have been glad to depart1 and be with ,christ4 ,i am now much better in body and mind1 having a little of the presence of my beloved1 whose absence is death to me4 ,the same month3 ,i have been carried through deep waters1 bodily and spiritual1 since last we met4 ,it was his own persuasion that few had more to struggle with in the inner man4 ,who can tell what wars go on within8 ,during this season of trial1 he was invited to form one of a number of ministers from ,scotland1 who were to visit the north of ,england1 with no other purpose than to preach the glad tidings4 ,the scheme was planned by a ,christian gentleman1 who has done much for ,christ in his generation4 ,when the invitation reached him1 he was in the heat of his furnace4 ,he mentioned this to the brother who corresponded with him on the subject1 ,mr4 ,purves of ,jedburgh1 whose reply was balm to his spirit 444 ,i have a fellow-feeling with you in your present infirmity1 and you know for your consolation that another has1 who is a brother indeed4 ,in all our afflictions1 ,he is afflicted4 ,he is1 we may say1 the common heart of his people1 for they are one body2 and an infirmity in the very remotest and meanest member is felt there and borne there4 ,let us console1 solace1 yea1 satiate ourselves in ,him1 as1 amid afflictions especially1 brother does in brother4 ,it is blessed to be like ,him in everything1 even in suffering4 ,there is a great want about all ,christians who have not suffered4 ,some flowers must be broken or bruised before they emit any fragrance4 ,all the wounds of ,christ send out sweetness2 all the sorrows of ,christians do the same4 ,commend me to a bruised brother1--a broken reed1--one like the ,son of man4 ,the ,man of ,sorrows is never far from him4 ,to me there is something sacred and sweet in all suffering2 it is so much akin to the ,man of ,sorrows4 ,it was thus he suffered1 and thus that he was comforted4 ,he wrote back1 agreeing to go1 and added4 ,remember me especially1 who am heavy laden oftentimes4 ,my heart is all of sin2 but ,jesus lives4 ,they set out for ,england4 ,mr4 ,purves1 ,mr4 ,somerville of ,anderston1 ,mr4 ,cumming of ,dumbarney1 and ,mr4 ,bonar of ,kelso1 formed the company4 ,their chief station was ,newcastle1 where ,mr4 ,burns had been recently laboring with some success1 and where he had seen a town giving itself up to utter ungodliness1 a town where ,satan's trenches were deep and wide1 his wall strong and high1 his garrison great and fearless1 and where all that man could do seemed but as arrows shot against a tower of brass4 ,but those who went knew that the ,spirit of ,god was omnipotent1 and that ,he could take the prey from the mighty4 ,they preached both in the open air1 and in the places of worship belonging to the ,presbyterians and to the ,wesleyan ,methodists4 ,the defenders of the ,sabbath cause were specially prepared to welcome ,mr4 ,m',cheyne1 whose tract on the ,lord's ,day has been widely circulated and blessed4 ,many were attracted to hear2 interesting congregations assembled in the market-place1 and there is reason to believe many were impressed4 ,a person in the town describes ,mr4 ,m',cheyne's last address as being peculiarly awakening4 ,he preached in the open air1 in a space of ground between the ,cloth ,market and ,st4 ,nicholas' ,church4 ,above a thousand souls were present1 and the service continued till ten1 without one person moving from the ground4 ,the moon shone brightly1 and the sky was spangled with stars4 ,his subject was1 ,the ,great ,white ,throne 7,rev4 #bj3aa74 ,in concluding his address1 he told them that they would never meet again till they all met at the judgment-seat of ,christ2 but the glorious heavens over their heads1 and the bright moon that shone upon them1 and the old venerable church behind them1 were his witnesses that he had set before them life and death4 ,some will have cause to remember that night through eternity4#ai #ai ,he afterwards preached the same subject with equal impressiveness in the ,meadows at ,dundee4 ,it was in the open air and the rain fell heavy1 yet the dense crowd stood still to the last4 ,his preaching at ,gilsland also was not without effect2 and he had good cause to bless the ,lord for bringing him through ,dumfriesshire in his way homeward4 ,he returned to his people in the beginning of ,september1 full of peace and joy4 ,i have returned much stronger1 indeed quite well4 ,i think ,i have got some precious souls for my hire on my way home4 ,i earnestly long for more grace and personal holiness1 and more usefulness4 ,the sunsets during that autumn were peculiarly beautiful4 ,scarcely a day passed but he gazed upon the glowing west after dinner2 and as he gazed he would speak of the ,sun of ,righteousness1 or the joy of angels in his presence1 or the blessedness of those whose sun can go no more down1 till his face shone with gladness as he spoke4 ,and during the winter he was observed to be peculiarly joyful1 being strong in body1 and feeling the near presence of ,jesus in his soul4 ,he lived in the blessed consciousness that he was a child of ,god1 humble and meek1 just because he was fully assured that ,jehovah was his ,god and ,father4 ,many often felt that in prayer the name ,holy ,father was breathed with peculiar tenderness and solemnity from his lips4 ,his flock in ,st4 ,peter's began to murmur at his absence1 when again he left them for ten days in ,november1 to assist ,mr4 ,hamilton of ,regent ,square1 ,london1 at his communion4 ,but it was his desire for souls that thus led him from place to place1 combined with a growing feeling that the ,lord was calling him to evangelistic more than to pastoral labors4 ,this visit was a blessed one2 and the growth of his soul in holiness was visible to many4 ,during the days of his visit to ,mr4 ,hamilton1 he read through the ,song of ,solomon at the time of family worship1 commenting briefly on it with rare gracefulness and poetic taste1 and yet rarer manifestation of soul-filling love to the ,saviour's person4 ,the sanctified affections of his soul1 and his insight into the mind of ,jesus1 seemed to have much affected his friends on these occasions4 ,receiving1 while here1 an invitation to return by the way of ,kelso1 he replied3-- ,london1 ,nov4 #e1 #ahdb4 ,my dear ,horatius1--,our friends here will not let me away till the ,friday morning1 so that it will require all my diligence to reach ,dundee before the ,sabbath4 ,i will thus be disappointed of the joy of seeing you1 and ministering a word to your dear flock4 ,oh that my soul were new moulded1 and ,i were effectually called a second time1 and made a vessel full of the ,spirit1 to tell only of ,jesus and his love6 ,i fear ,i shall never be in this world what ,i desire4 ,i have preached three times here2 a few tears also have been shed4 ,oh for ,whitfield's week in ,london1 when a thousand letters came6 ,the same ,jesus reigns2 the same ,spirit is able4 ,why is ,he restrained8 ,is the sin ours8 ,are we the bottle-stoppers of these heavenly dews8 ,ever yours till glory4 ,p4,s4--,we shall meet1 ,god willing1 at the ,convocation4 ,the memorable ,convocation met at ,edinburgh on ,november #agth4 ,there were five hundred ministers present from all parts of ,scotland4 ,the encroachment of the civil courts upon the prerogatives of ,christ1 the only ,head acknowledged by our church1 and the negligent treatment hitherto given by the legislature of the country to every remonstrance on the part of the church1 had brought on a crisis4 ,the ,church of ,scotland had maintained1 from the days of the ,reformation1 that her connection with the ,state was understood to imply no surrender whatsoever of complete independence in regulating all spiritual matters2 and to have allowed any civil authority to control her in doctrine1 discipline1 or any spiritual act1 would have been a daring and flagrant act of treachery to her ,lord and ,king4 ,the deliberations of the ,convocation continued during eight days1 and the momentous results are well known in this land4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was never absent from any of the diets of this solemn assembly4 ,he felt the deepest interest in every matter that came before them1 got great light as to the path of duty in the course of the consultations1 and put his name to all the resolutions1 heartily sympathizing in the decided determination that1 as a church of ,christ1 we must abandon our connection with the ,state1 if our ,claim of ,rights were rejected4 ,these eight days were times of remarkable union and prayerfulness4 ,the proceedings1 from time to time1 were suspended till the brethren had again asked counsel of the ,lord by prayer2 and none present will forget the affecting solemnity with which1 on one occasion1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne poured out our wants before the ,lord4 ,he had a decided abhorrence of ,erastianism4 ,when the question was put to him1 ,is it our duty to refuse ordination to any one who holds the views of ,erastianism8 he replied1--,certainly1 whatever be his other qualifications4 ,he was ever a thorough ,presbyterian1 and used to maintain the necessity of abolishing lay patronage1 because1--#ast1 ,it was not to be found in the word of ,god2 #bnd1 ,it destroyed the duty of trying the spirits2 #crd1 ,it meddled with the headship of ,christ1 coming in between ,him and his people1 saying1 ,i will place the stars4 ,but still more decided was he in regard to the spiritual independence of the church4 ,this he reckoned a vital question3 and in prospect of the disruption of the ,church of ,scotland1 if it were denied1 he stated at a public meeting1--#ast1 ,that it was to be deplored in some respects1 viz41 because of the sufferings of ,god's faithful servants1 the degradation of those who remained behind1 the alienation of the aristocracy1 the perdition of the ungodly1 and the sin of the nation4 ,but1 #bnd1 ,it was to be hailed for other reasons1 viz41 ,christ's kingly offices would be better known1 the truth would be spread into desolate parishes1 and faithful ministers would be refined4 ,and when1 on ,march #gth of the following year1 the cause of the church was finally to be pleaded at the bar of the ,house of ,commons1 ,i find him writing3 ,eventful night this in the ,british ,parliament6 ,once more ,king ,jesus stands at an earthly tribunal1 and they know ,him not6 ,an interesting anecdote is related of him by a co-presbyter1 who returned with him to ,dundee after the ,convocation4 ,this co-presbyter1 ,mr4 ,stewart1 was conversing with him as to what it might be their duty to do in the event of the disruption1 and where they might be scattered4 ,mr4 ,stewart said he could preach ,gaelic1 and might go to the ,highlanders in ,canada1 if it were needful4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne said1 ,i think of going to the many thousand convicts that are transported beyond seas1 for no man careth for their souls4 ,we have not many records of his public work after this date4 ,almost the last note in his diary is dated ,december #be3 ,this day ordained four elders1 and admitted a fifth1 who will all1 ,i trust1 be a blessing in this place when ,i am gone4 ,was graciously awakened a great while before day1 and had two hours alone with ,god4 ,preached with much comfort on ,i ,tim4 #e3ag1 ',let the elders that rule well1' etc4 ,at the end of the sermon and prayer1 proposed the regular questions2 then made the congregation sing standing2 during which time ,i came down from the pulpit and stood over the four men1 then prayed1 and all the elders gave the right hand of fellowship1 during which ,i returned to the pulpit1 and addressed them and the congregation on their relative duties4 ,altogether a solemn scene4 ,the last recorded cases of awakening1 and the last entry in his diary1 is dated ,january #f1 #ahdc3 ,heard of an awakened soul finding rest--true rest1 ,i trust4 ,two new cases of awakening2 both very deep and touching4 ,at the very time when ,i was beginning to give up in despair1 ,god gives me tokens of his presence returning4 ,he here speaks of discouragement1 when ,god for a few months or weeks seemed to be withholding his hand from saving souls4 ,if he was not right in thus hastily forgetting the past for a little1 still this feature of his ministry is to be well considered4 ,he entertained so full a persuasion that a faithful minister has every reason to expect to see souls converted under him1 that when this was withheld1 he began to fear that some hidden evil was provoking the ,lord and grieving the ,spirit4 ,and ought it not to be so with all of us8 ,ought we not to suspect1 either that we are not living near to ,god1 or that our message is not a true transcript of the glad tidings1 in both matter and manner1 when we see no souls brought to ,jesus8 ,god may certainly hide from our knowledge much of what ,he accomplishes by our means1 but as certainly will ,he bring to our view some seals of our ministry1 in order that our persuasion of being thus sent by ,him may solemnize and overawe us1 as well as lead us on to unwearied labor4 ,ought it not to be the inscription over the doors of our ,assembly and ,college halls3 ,thanks be unto ,god1 which always causeth us to triumph in ,christ1 and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place8 ,,ii ,cor4 #b3ad4 ,about this time1 in one of his ,,mss41 there occurs this sentence3 ,as ,i was walking in the fields1 the thought came over me with almost overwhelming power1 that every one of my flock must soon be in heaven or hell4 ,oh1 how ,i wished that ,i had a tongue like thunder1 that ,i might make all hear2 or that ,i had a frame like iron1 that ,i might visit every one1 and say1 ',escape for thy life6' ,ah1 sinners6 you little know how ,i fear that you will lay the blame of your damnation at my door4 ,he was never satisfied with his own attainments in holiness2 he was ever ready to learn1 and quick to apply1 any suggestion that might tend to his greater usefulness4 ,about this period he used to sing a psalm or hymn every day after dinner4 ,it was often1 ,the ,lord's my shepherd1 etc42 or1 ,oh may we stand before the ,lamb6 etc4 ,sometimes it was that hymn1 ,oh for a closer walk with ,god6 and sometimes the psalm1 ,oh that ,i like a dove had wings6 etc4 ,a friend said of him4 ,i have sometimes compared him to the silver and graceful ash1 with its pensile branches1 and leaves of gentle green1 reflecting gleams of happy sunshine4 ,the fall of its leaf1 too1 is like the fall of his1--it is green to-night and gone to-morrow1 it does not sere nor wither4 ,an experienced servant of ,god has said1 that1 while popularity is a snare that few are not caught by1 a more subtle and dangerous snare is to be famed for holiness4 ,the fame of being a godly man is as great a snare as the fame of being learned or eloquent4 ,it is possible to attend with scrupulous anxiety even to secret habits of devotion1 in order to get a name for holiness4#bj ,if any were exposed to this snare in his day1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne was the person4 ,yet nothing is more certain than that1 to the very last1 he was ever discovering1 and successfully resisting1 the deceitful tendencies of his own heart and a tempting devil4 ,two things he seems never to have ceased from1--the cultivation of personal holiness1 and the most anxious efforts to save souls4 #bj ,how true1 yet awful1 is the language of ,dr ,owen 7quoted in ,bridges' ,christian ,ministry1 p4 #afh71 ,he that would go down to the pit in peace1 let him obtain a great repute for religion2 let him preach and labour to make other better than he is himself1 and in the meantime neglect to humble his heart1 to walk with ,god in manifest holiness and usefulness1 and he will not fail of his end4 ,about this time he wrote down1 for his own use1 an examination into things that ought to be amended and changed4 ,i subjoin it entire4 ,how singularly close and impartial are these researches into his soul6 ,how acute is he in discovering his variations from the holy law of ,god6 ,oh that we all were taught by the same spirit thus to try our reins6 ,it is only when we are thus thoroughly experiencing our helplessness1 and discovering the thousand forms of indwelling sin1 that we really sit as disciples at ,christ's feet1 and gladly receive ,him as all in all6 ,and at each such moment we feel in the spirit of ,ignatius1 ,greek3 ,nyn gar archn ech tou mathteuesthai--,it is only now that ,i begin to be a disciple4 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne entitles the examination of his heart and life ,reformation and it commences thus3-- ,it is the duty of ministers in this day to begin the reformation of religion and manners with themselves1 families1 etc41 with confession of past sin1 earnest prayer for direction1 grace1 and full purpose of heart4 ,mal4 #c3c--';,he shall purify the sons of ,levi4' ,ministers are probably laid aside for a time for this very purpose4 #a4 ,personal ,reformation4 ,i am persuaded that ,i shall obtain the highest amount of present happiness1 ,i shall do most for ,god's glory and the good of man1 and ,i shall have the fullest reward in eternity1 by maintaining a conscience always washed in ,christ's blood1 by being filled with the ,holy ,spirit at all times1 and by attaining the most entire likeness to ,christ in mind1 will1 and heart1 that is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world4 ,i am persuaded that whenever any one from without1 or my own heart from within1 at any moment1 or in any circumstances1 contradicts this1--if any one shall insinuate that it is not for my present and eternal happiness1 and for ,god's glory and my usefulness1 to maintain a blood-washed conscience1 to be entirely filled with the ,spirit1 and to be fully conformed to the image of ,christ in all things1--that is the voice of the devil1 ,god's enemy1 the enemy of my soul and of all good--the most foolish1 wicked1 and miserable of all the creatures4 ,see ,prov4 #i3ag--',stolen waters are sweet4' #a4 ,to maintain a conscience void of offence1 ,i am persuaded that ,i ought to confess my sins more4 ,i think ,i ought to confess sin the moment ,i see it to be sin2 whether ,i am in company1 or in study1 or even preaching1 the soul ought to cast a glance of abhorrence at the sin4 ,if ,i go on with the duty1 leaving the sin unconfessed1 ,i go on with a burdened conscience1 and add sin to sin4 ,i think ,i ought at certain times of the day--my best times1--say1 after breakfast and after tea1--to confess solemnly the sins of the previous hours1 and to seek their complete remission4 ,i find that the devil often makes use of the confession of sin to stir up again the very sin confessed into new exercise1 so that ,i am afraid to dwell upon the confession4 ,i must ask experienced ,christians about this4 ,for the present1 ,i think ,i should strive against this awful abuse of confession1 whereby the devil seeks to frighten me away from confessing4 ,i ought to take all methods for seeing the vileness of my sins4 ,i ought to regard myself as a condemned branch of ,adam1--as partaker of a nature opposite to ,god from the womb 7,ps4 #ea471--;as having a heart full of all wickedness1 which pollutes every thought1 word1 and action1 during my whole life1 from birth to death4 ,i ought to confess often the sins of my youth1 like ,david and ,paul1--my sins before conversion1 my sins since conversion1--sins against light and knowledge1 against love and grace1 against each person of the ,godhead4 ,i ought to look at my sins in the light of the holy law1 in the light of ,god's countenance1 in the light of the cross1 in the light of the judgment-seat1 in the light of hell1 in the light of eternity4 ,i ought to examine my dreams--my floating thoughts--my predilections--my often recurring actions--my habits of thought1 feeling1 speech1 and action--the slanders of my enemies and the reproofs1 and even banterings1 of my friends--to find out traces of my prevailing sin1 matter for confession4 ,i ought to have a stated day of confession1 with fasting--say1 once a month4 ,i ought to have a number of scriptures marked1 to bring sin to remembrance4 ,i ought to make use of all bodily affliction1 domestic trial1 frowns of providence on myself1 house1 parish1 church1 or country1 as calls from ,god to confess sin4 ,the sins and afflictions of other men should call me to the same4 ,i ought1 on ,sabbath evenings1 and on ,communion ,sabbath evenings1 to be especially careful to confess the sins of holy things4 ,i ought to confess the sins of my confessions1--their imperfections1 sinful aims1 self-righteous tendency1 etc41--and to look to ,christ as having confessed my sins perfectly over his own sacrifice4 ,i ought to go to ,christ for the forgiveness of each sin4 ,in washing my body1 ,i go over every spot1 and wash it out4 ,should ,i be less careful in washing my soul8 ,i ought to see the stripe that was made on the back of ,jesus by each of my sins4 ,i ought to see the infinite pang thrill through the soul of ,jesus equal to an eternity of my hell for my sins1 and for all of them4 ,i ought to see that in ,christ's bloodshedding there is an infinite over-payment for all my sins4 ,although ,christ did not suffer more than infinite justice demanded1 yet ,he could not suffer at all without laying down an infinite ransom4 ,i feel1 when ,i have sinned1 an immediate reluctance to go to ,christ4 ,i am ashamed to go4 ,i feel as if it would do no good to go1--as if it were making ,christ a minister of sin1 to go straight from the swine-trough to the best robe1--and a thousand other excuses2 but ,i am persuaded they are all lies1 direct from hell4 ,john argues the opposite way3 ',if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father2' ,jer4 #c3a and a thousand other scriptures are against it4 ,i am sure there is neither peace nor safety from deeper sin1 but in going directly to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is ,god's way of peace and holiness4 ,it is folly to the world and the beclouded heart1 but it is the way4 ,i must never think a sin too small to need immediate application to the blood of ,christ4 ,if ,i put away a good conscience1 concerning faith ,i make shipwreck4 ,i must never think my sins too great1 too aggravated1 too presumptuous1--as when done on my knees1 or in preaching1 or by a dying bed1 or during dangerous illness1--to hinder me from fleeing to ,christ4 ,the weight of my sins should act like the weight of a clock3 the heavier it is1 it makes it go the faster4 ,i must not only wash in ,christ's blood1 but clothe me in ,christ's obedience4 ,for every sin of omission in self1 ,i may find a divinely perfect obedience ready for me in ,christ4 ,for every sin of commission in self1 ,i may find not only a stripe or a wound in ,christ1 but also a perfect rendering of the opposite obedience in my place1 so that the law is magnified1 its curse more than carried1 its demand more than answered4 ,often the doctrine of ,christ for me appears common1 well known1 having nothing new in it2 and ,i am tempted to pass it by and go to some scripture more taking4 ,this is the devil again1--a red-hot lie4 ,christ for us is ever new1 ever glorious4 ',unsearchable riches of ,christ1'--an infinite object1 and the only one for a guilty soul4 ,i ought to have a number of scriptures ready1 which lead my blind soul directly to ,christ1 such as ,isaiah #de1 ,rom4 #c4 #b4 ,to be filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 ,i am persuaded that ,i ought to study more my own weakness4 ,i ought to have a number of scriptures ready to be meditated on1 such as ,rom4 #g1 ,john #ae1 to convince me that ,i am a helpless worm4 ,i am tempted to think that ,i am now an established ,christian1--that ,i have overcome this or that lust so long1--that ,i have got into the habit of the opposite grace1--so that there is no fear2 ,i may venture very near the temptation--nearer than other men4 ,this is a lie of ,satan4 ,i might as well speak of gunpowder getting by habit a power of resisting fire1 so as not to catch the spark4 ,as long as powder is wet1 it resists the spark2 but when it becomes dry1 it is ready to explode at the first touch4 ,as long as the ,spirit dwells in my heart ,he deadens me to sin1 so that1 if lawfully called through temptation1 ,i may reckon upon ,god carrying me through4 ,but when the ,spirit leaves me1 ,i am like dry gunpowder4 ,oh for a sense of this6 ,i am tempted to think that there are some sins for which ,i have no natural taste1 such as strong drink1 profane language1 etc41 so that ,i need not fear temptation to such sins4 ,this is a lie1--a proud1 presumptuous lie4 ,the seeds of all sins1 are in my heart1 and perhaps all the more dangerously that ,i do not see them4 ,i ought to pray and labor for the deepest sense of my utter weakness and helplessness that ever a sinner was brought to feel4 ,i am helpless in respect of every lust that ever was1 or ever will be1 in the human heart4 ,i am a worm--a beast--before ,god4 ,i often tremble to think that this is true4 ,i feel as if it would not be safe for me to renounce all indwelling strength1 as if it would be dangerous for me to feel 7what is the truth7 that there is nothing in me keeping me back from the grossest and vilest sin4 ,this is a delusion of the devil4 ,my only safety is to know1 feel1 and confess my helplessness1 that ,i may hang upon the arm of ,omnipotence 444 ,i daily wish that sin had been rooted out of my heart4 ,i say1 ',why did ,god leave the root of lasciviousness1 pride1 anger1 etc41 in my bosom8 ,he hates sin1 and ,i hate it2 why did ,he not take it clean away8' ,i know many answers to this which completely satisfy my judgment1 but still ,i do not feel satisfied4 ,this is wrong4 ,it is right to be weary of the being of sin1 but not right to quarrel with my present 'good fight of faith4' 444 ,the falls of professors into sin make me tremble4 ,i have been driven away from prayer1 and burdened in a fearful manner by hearing or seeing their sin4 ,this is wrong4 ,it is right to tremble1 and to make every sin of every professor a lesson of my own helplessness2 but it should lead me the more to ,christ 444 ,if ,i were more deeply convinced of my utter helplessness1 ,i think ,i would not be so alarmed when ,i hear of the falls of other men 444 ,i should study those sins in which ,i am most helpless1 in which passion becomes like a whirlwind and ,i like a straw4 ,no figure of speech can represent my utter want of power to resist the torrent of sin 444 ,i ought to study ,christ's omnipotence more3 ,heb4 #g3be1 ,i ,thess4 #e3bc1 ,rom4 #f3ad1 ,rom4 #e3i1 #aj1 and such scriptures1 should be ever before me 444 ,paul's thorn1 ,,ii ,cor4 #ab1 is the experience of the greater part of my life4 ,it should be ever before me 444 ,there are many subsidiary methods of seeking deliverance from sins1 which must not be neglected1--thus1 marriage1 ,i ,cor4 #g3b2 fleeing1 ,i ,tim4 #f3aa1 ,i ,cor4 #f3ah2 watch and pray1 ,matt4 #bf3da2 the word1 ',it is written1 ,it is written4' ,so ,christ defended himself2 ,matt4 #d4 444 ,but the main defence is casting myself into the arms of ,christ like a helpless child1 and beseeching ,him to fill me with the ,holy ,spirit4 ',this is the victory that overcometh the world1 even our faith1' ,i ,john #e3d1 #e1--;a wonderful passage4 ,i ought to study ,christ as a living ,saviour more1--as a ,shepherd1 carrying the sheep ,he finds1--as a ,king1 reigning in and over the souls ,he has redeemed1--as a ,captain1 fighting with those who fight with me1 ,ps4 #ce41--;as one who has engaged to bring me through all temptations and trials1 however impossible to flesh and blood4 ,i am often tempted to say1 ,how can this ,man save us8 ,how can ,christ in heaven deliver me from lusts which ,i feel raging in me1 and nets ,i feel enclosing me8 ,this is the father of lies again6 ',he is able to save unto the uttermost4' ,i ought to study ,christ as an ,intercessor4 ,he prayed most for ,peter1 who was to be most tempted4 ,i am on his breastplate4 ,if ,i could hear ,christ praying for me in the next room1 ,i would not fear a million of enemies4 ,yet the distance makes no difference2 ,he is praying for me4 ,i ought to study the ,comforter more1--his ,godhead1 his love1 his almightiness4 ,i have found by experience that nothing sanctifies me so much as meditating on the ,comforter1 as ,john #ad3af4 ,and yet how seldom ,i do this6 ,satan keeps me from it4 ,i am often like those men who said1 ,they knew not if there be any ,holy ,ghost 444 ,i ought never to forget that my body is dwelt in by the third ,person of the ,godhead4 ,the very thought of this should make me tremble to sin2 ,i ,cor4 #f 444 ,i ought never to forget that sin grieves the ,holy ,spirit1--vexes and quenches ,him 444 ,if ,i would be filled with the ,spirit1 ,i feel ,i must read the ,bible more1 pray more1 and watch more4 #c4 ,to gain entire likeness to ,christ1 ,i ought to get a high esteem of the happiness of it4 ,i am persuaded that ,god's happiness is inseparably linked in with his holiness4 ,holiness and happiness are like light and heat4 ,god never tasted one of the pleasures of sin4 ,christ had a body such as ,i have1 yet ,he never tasted one of the pleasures of sin4 ,the redeemed1 through all eternity1 will never taste one of the pleasures of sin2 yet their happiness is complete4 ,it would be my greatest happiness to be from this moment entirely like them4 ,every sin is something away from my greatest enjoyment 444 ,the devil strives night and day to make me forget this or disbelieve it4 ,he says1 ,why should you not enjoy this pleasure as much as ,solomon or ,david8 ,you may go to heaven also4 ,i am persuaded that this is a lie1--that my true happiness is to go and sin no more4 ,i ought not to delay parting with sins4 ,now is ,god's time4 ',i made haste and delayed not4' 444 ,i ought not to spare sins because ,i have long allowed them as infirmities1 and others would think it odd if ,i were to change all at once4 ,what a wretched delusion of ,satan that is6 ,whatever ,i see to be sin1 ,i ought from this hour to set my whole soul against it1 using all scriptural methods to mortify it1 as the ,scriptures1 special prayer for the ,spirit1 fasting1 watching4 ,i ought to mark strictly the occasions when ,i have fallen1 and avoid the occasion as much as the sin itself4 ,satan often tempts me to go as near to temptations as possible without committing the sin4 ,this is fearful1--tempting ,god and grieving the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is a deep-laid plot of ,satan4 ,i ought to flee all temptation1 according to ,prov4 #d3ae--;,avoid it1 pass not by it1 turn from it1 and pass away4' 444 ,i ought constantly to pour out my heart to ,god1 praying for entire conformity to ,christ--for the whole law to be written on my heart 444 ,i ought statedly and solemnly to give my heart to ,god--to surrender my all into his everlasting arms1 according to the prayer1 ,ps4 #ca41 ',into thine hand ,i commit my spirit1'--beseeching ,him not to let any iniquity1 secret or presumptuous1 have dominion over me1 and to fill me with every grace that is in ,christ1 in the highest degree that it is possible for redeemed sinner to receive it1 and at all times1 till death4 ,i ought to meditate often on heaven as a world of holiness1--where all are holy1 where the joy is holy joy1 the work holy work2 so that1 without personal holiness1 ,i never can be there 444 ,i ought to avoid the appearance of evil4 ,god commands me2 and ,i find that ,satan has a singular art in linking the appearance and reality together4 ,i find that speaking of some sins defiles my mind and leads me into temptation2 and ,i find that ,god forbids even saints to speak of the things that are done of them in secret4 ,i ought to avoid this4 ,eve1 ,achan1 ,david1 all fell through the lust of the eye4 ,i should make a covenant with mine1 and pray1 ',turn away mine eyes from viewing vanity4' 444 ,satan makes unconverted men like the deaf adder to the sound of the gospel4 ,i should pray to be made deaf by the ,holy ,spirit to all that would tempt me to sin4 ,one of my most frequent occasions of being led into temptation is this1--,i say it is needful to my office that ,i listen to this1 or look into this1 or speak of this4 ,so far this is true2 yet ,i am sure ,satan has his part in this argument4 ,i should seek divine direction to settle how far it will be good for my ministry1 and how far evil for my soul1 that ,i may avoid the latter4 ,i am persuaded that nothing is thriving in my soul unless it is growing4 ',grow in grace4' ',lord1 increase our faith4' ',forgetting the things that are behind4' 444 ,i am persuaded that ,i ought to be inquiring at ,god and man what grace ,i want1 and how ,i may become more like ,christ 444 ,i ought to strive for more purity1 humility1 meekness1 patience under suffering1 love4 ',make me ,christ-like in all things1' should be my constant prayer4 ',fill me with the ,holy ,spirit4' #b4 ,reformation in ,secret ,prayer4 ,i ought not to omit any of the parts of prayer--confession1 adoration1 thanksgiving1 petition1 and intercession4 ,there is a fearful tendency to omit confession1 proceeding from low views of ,god and his law1 slight views of my heart and the sins of my past life4 ,this must be resisted4 ,there is a constant tendency to omit adoration1 when ,i forget to whom ,i am speaking--when ,i rush heedlessly into the presence of ,jehovah1 without remembering his awful name and character--when ,i have little eyesight for his glory1 and little admiration of his wonders4 ',where are the wise8' ,i have the native tendency of the heart to omit giving thanks4 ,and yet it is specially commanded1 ,phil4 #d3f4 ,often when the heart is selfish1 dead to the salvation of others1 ,i omit intercession4 ,and yet it especially is the spirit of the great ,advocate1 who has the name of ,israel always on his heart4 ,perhaps every prayer need not have all these2 but surely a day should not pass without some space being devoted to each4 ,i ought to pray before seeing any one4 ,often when ,i sleep long1 or meet with others early1 and then have family prayer1 and breakfast1 and forenoon callers1 often it is eleven or twelve o'clock before ,i begin secret prayer4 ,this is a wretched system4 ,it is unscriptural4 ,christ rose before day1 and went into a solitary place4 ,david says1 ',early will ,i seek ,thee2 ,thou shalt early hear my voice4' ,mary ,magdalene came to the sepulchre while it was yet dark4 ,family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness2 and ,i can do no good to those who come to seek from me4 ,the conscience feels guilty1 the soul unfed1 the lamp not trimmed4 ,then1 when secret prayer comes1 the soul is often out of tune4 ,i feel it is far better to begin with ,god--to see his face first--to get my soul near ,him before it is near another4 ',when ,i awake ,i am still with ,thee4' ,if ,i have slept too long1 or am going an early journey1 or my time is any way shortened1 it is best to dress hurriedly1 and have a few minutes alone with ,god1 than to give it up for lost4 ,but in general1 it is best to have at least one hour alone with ,god1 before engaging in anything else4 ,at the same time1 ,i must be careful not to reckon communion with ,god by minutes or hours1 or by solitude4 ,i have pored over my ,bible1 and on my knees for hours1 with little or no communion2 and my times of solitude have been often times of greatest temptation4 ,as to intercession1 ,i ought daily to intercede for my own family1 connections1 relatives1 and friends2 also for my flock1--the believers1 the awakened1 the careless2 the sick1 the bereaved2 the poor1 the rich2 my elders1 ,sabbath-school teachers1 day-school teachers1 children1 tract-distributors1 that all means may be blessed--,sabbath-day preaching and teaching2 visiting of the sick1 visiting from house to house2 providences1 sacraments4 ,i ought daily to intercede briefly for the whole town1 the ,church of ,scotland1 all faithful ministers2 for vacant congregations1 students of divinity1 etc42 for dear brethren by name2 for missionaries to ,jews and ,gentiles1 and for this end ,i must read missionary intelligence regularly1 and get acquainted with all that is doing throughout the world4 ,it would stir me up to pray with the map before me4 ,i must have a scheme of prayer1 also the names of missionaries marked on the map4 ,i ought to intercede at large for the above on ,saturday morning and evening from seven to eight4 ,perhaps also ,i might take different parts for different days2 only ,i ought daily to plead for my family and flock4 ,i ought to pray in everything4 ',be careful for nothing1 but in everything 444 by prayer and supplication1 make your requests known unto ,god4' ,often ,i receive a letter asking to preach1 or some such request4 ,i find myself answering before having asked counsel of ,god4 ,still oftener a person calls and asks me something1 and ,i do not ask direction4 ,often ,i go out to visit a sick person in a hurry1 without asking his blessing1 which alone can make the visit of any use4 ,i am persuaded that ,i ought never to do anything without prayer1 and1 if possible1 special1 secret prayer4 ,in reading the history of the ,church of ,scotland1 ,i see how much her troubles and trials have been connected with the salvation of souls and the glory of ,christ4 ,i ought to pray far more for our church1 for our leading ministers by name1 and for my own clear guidance in the right way1 that ,i may not be led aside1 or driven aside1 from following ,christ4 ,many difficult questions may be forced on us for which ,i am not fully prepared1 such as the lawfulness of covenants4 ,i should pray much more in peaceful days1 that ,i may be guided rightly when days of trial come4 ,i ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with ,god4 ,it is my noblest and most fruitful employment1 and is not to be thrust into any corner4 ,the morning hours1 from six to eight1 are the most uninterrupted1 and should be thus employed1 if ,i can prevent drowsiness4 ,a little time after breakfast might be given to intercession4 ,after tea is my best hour1 and that should be solemnly dedicated to ,god1 if possible4 ,i ought not to give up the good old habit of prayer before going to bed2 but guard must be kept against sleep3 planning what things ,i am to ask is the best remedy4 ,when ,i awake in the night1 ,i ought to rise and pray1 as ,david and as ,john ,welsh did4 ,i ought to read three chapters of the ,bible in secret every day1 at least4 ,i ought on ,sabbath morning to look over all the chapters read through the week1 and especially the verses marked4 ,i ought to read in three different places2 ,i ought also to read according to subjects1 lives1 etc4 ,he has evidently left this unfinished1 and now he knows even as he is known4 ,toward the end of his ministry1 he became peculiarly jealous of becoming an idol to his people2 for he was loved and revered by many who gave no evidence of love to ,christ4 ,this often pained him much4 ,it is indeed right in a people to regard their pastor with no common love 7,,ii ,cor4 #i3ad71 but there is ever a danger ready to arise4 ,he used to say1 ,ministers are but the pole2 it is to the brazen serpent you are to look4 ,the state of his health would not permit him to be laborious in going from house to house1 whereas preaching and evangelistic work in general was less exhausting2 but of course1 while he was thus engaged1 many concerns of the parish would be unattended to2 accordingly his ,session offered him a stated assistant to help him in his parochial duty4 ,with this proposal he at once concurred4 ,mr4 ,gatherer1 then at ,caraldstone1 was chosen1 and continued to labor faithfully with him during the remaining days of his ministry4 ,in the beginning of the year he published his ,daily ,bread1 an arrangement of ,scripture1 that the ,bible might be read through in the course of a year4 ,he sought to induce his people to meditate much on the written word in all its breadth4 ,his last publication was1 ,another ,lily ,gathered1 or the account of ,james ,laing1 a little boy in his flock1 brought to ,christ early1 and carried soon to glory4 ,in the middle of ,january #ahdc1 he visited ,collace1 and preached on ,i ,cor4 #i3bg3 ,a ,castaway--a sermon so solemn that one said it was like a blast of the trumpet that would awaken the dead4 ,next day he rode on to ,lintrathen1 where the people were willing to give up their work at mid-day1 if he would come and preach to them4 ,all this month he was breathing after glory4 ,in his letters there are such expressions as these3 ,i often pray1 ,lord1 make me as holy as a pardoned sinner can be made4 ,often1 often ,i would like to depart and be with ,christ--to mount to ,pisgah-top and take a farewell look of the church below1 and leave my body and be present with the ,lord4 ,ah1 it is far better6 ,again3 ,i do not expect to live long4 ,i expect a sudden call some day--perhaps soon1 and therefore ,i speak very plainly4 ,but1 indeed1 he had long been persuaded that his course would be brief4 ,his hearers remember well how often he would speak in such language as that with which he one day closed his sermon3 ,changes are coming2 every eye before me shall soon be dim in death4 ,another pastor shall feed this flock2 another singer lead the psalm2 another flock shall fill this fold4 ,in the beginning of ,february1 by appointment of the ,committee of the ,convocation1 he accompanied ,mr4 ,alexander of ,zirkcaldy to visit the districts of ,deer and ,ellon--districts over which he yearned1 for ,moderatism had held undisputed sway over them for generations4 ,it was to be his last evangelistic tour4 ,he exemplified his own remark1 ,the oil of the lamp in the temple burnt away in giving light2 so should we4 ,he set out1 says one that saw him leave town1 as unclouded and happy as the sky that was above his head that bright morning4 ,during the space of three weeks1 he preached or spoke at meetings in four-and-twenty places1 sometimes more than once in the same place4 ,great impression was made upon the people of the district4 ,one who tracked his footsteps a month after his death states1 that sympathy with the principles of our suffering church was awakened in many places2 but1 above all1 a thirst was excited for the pure word of life4 ,his eminently holy walk and conversation1 combined with the deep solemnity of his preaching1 was specially felt4 ,the people loved to speak of him4 ,in one place1 where a meeting had been intimated1 the people assembled1 resolving to cast stones at him as soon as he should begin to speak2 but so sooner had he begun1 than his manner1 his look1 his words1 riveted them all1 and they listened with intense earnestness2 and before he left the place1 the people gathered round him1 entreating him to stay and preach to them4 ,one man1 who had cast mud at him1 was afterwards moved to tears on hearing of his death4 ,he wrote to ,mr4 ,gatherer1 ,february #ad1 ,i had a nice opportunity of preaching in ,aberdeen2 and in ,peterhead our meeting was truly successful4 ,the minister of ,st4 ,fergus ,i found to be what you described4 ,we had a solemn meeting in his church4 ,in ,strichen1 we had a meeting in the ,independent ,meeting-house4 ,on ,friday evening1 we had two delightful meetings1 in a mill at ,crechie1 and in the church of ,clola4 ,the people were evidently much impressed1 some weeping4 ,on ,saturday evening we met in the ,brucklay barn4 ,i preached on ,sabbath1 at ,new ,deer in the morning1 and at ,fraserburgh in the evening--both interesting meetings4 ,to-night we met in ,pitsligo church4 ,to-morrow we trust to be in ,aberdour2 and then we leave for the ,presbytery of ,ellon4 ,the weather has been delightful till now4 ,to-day the snow is beginning to drift4 ,but ,god is with us1 and ,he will carry us to the very end4 ,i am quite well1 though a little fatigued sometimes4 ,on the #bdth1 he writes to another friend1 ,to-day is the first we have rested since leaving home1 so that ,i am almost overcome with fatigue4 ,do not be idle2 improve in all useful knowledge4 ,you know what an enemy ,i am to idleness4 ,never was it more felt that ,god was with him than in this journey4 ,the ,lord seemed to show in him the meaning of the text1 ,out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water1 ,john #g3ch4 ,even when silent1 the near intercourse he held with ,god left its impression on those around4 ,his constant holiness touched the conscience of many4 ,returning to his beloved flock on ,march #ast1 in good health1 but much exhausted1 he related1 next evening1 at his prayer-meeting1 what things he had seen and heard4 ,during the next twelve days he was to be found going out and in among his people1 filling up1 as his manner was1 every inch of time4 ,but he had been much weakened by his unceasing exertions when in the north1 and he was more than ordinarily exposed to the typhus fever that was then prevailing in his parish1 several cases of which he visited in his enfeebled state4 ,on ,sabbath the #eth1 he preached three times2 and two days after1 ,i find him writing to his father3 ,all domestic matters go on like a placid stream--,i trust not without its fertilizing influence4 ,nothing is more improving than the domestic altar1 when we come to it for a daily supply of soul nourishment4 ,to the last we get glances into his soul's growth4 ,his family devotions were full of life and full of gladness to the end4 ,indeed1 his very manner in reading the chapter reminded you of a man poring into the sands for pieces of fine gold1 and from time to time holding up to you what he delighted to have found4 ,on ,sabbath the #abth1 he preached upon ,heb4 #i3ae in the forenoon1 and ,rom4 #i3bb1 #bc1 in the afternoon1 with uncommon solemnity2 and it was observed1 both then and on other late occasions1 he spoke with peculiar strength upon the sovereignty of ,god4 ,these were his last discourses to his people in ,st4 ,peter's4 ,that same evening he went down to ,broughty ,ferry1 and preached upon ,isaiah #fj3a1 ,arise1 shine4 etc4 ,it was the last time he was to be engaged directly in proclaiming ,christ to sinners2 and as he began his ministry with souls for his hire1 so it appears that his last discourse had in it saving power to some1 and that rather from the holiness it breathed than from the wisdom of its words4 ,after his death1 a note was found unopened1 which had been sent to him in the course of the following week1 when he lay in the fever4 ,it ran thus3 ,i hope you will pardon a stranger for addressing to you a few lines4 ,i heard you preach last ,sabbath evening1 and it pleased ,god to bless that sermon to my soul4 ,it was not so much what you said1 as your manner of speaking that struck me4 ,i saw in you a beauty in holiness that ,i never saw before4 ,you also said something in your prayer that struck me very much4 ,it was1 ',thou knowest that we love ,thee4' ,oh1 sir1 what would ,i give that ,i could say to my blessed ,saviour1 ',thou knowest that ,i love ,thee6' ,next evening he held a meeting in ,st4 ,peter's1 with the view of organizing his people for collecting in behalf of the ,free ,protesting ,church1--the disruption of the ,establishment being now inevitable4 ,he spoke very fervently2 and after the meeting felt chilled and unwell4 ,next morning he felt that he was ill2 but went out in the afternoon to the marriage of two of his flock4 ,he seemed1 however1 to anticipate a serious attack1 for1 on his way home1 he made some arrangements connected with his ministerial work1 and left a message at ,dr4 ,gibson's house1 asking him to come and see him4 ,he believed that he had taken the fever1 and it was so4 ,that night he lay down upon the bed from which he was never to rise4 ,he spoke little1 but intimated that he apprehended danger4 ,on ,wednesday1 he said he thought that he would never have seen the morning1 he felt so sore broken1 and had got no sleep2 but afterwards added1 ,shall we receive good at the hand of the ,lord1 and shall we not receive evil also8 ,he seemed clouded in spirit1 often repeating such passages as--,my moisture is turned into the drought of summer2--,my bones wax old1 through my roaring all day long4 ,it was with difficulty that he was able to speak a few words with his assistant1 ,mr4 ,gatherer4 ,in the forenoon1 ,mr4 ,miller of ,wallacetown found him oppressed with extreme pain in his head4 ,amongst other things they conversed upon ,ps4 #abf4 ,on coming to the #fth verse1 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne said he would give him a division of it4 #a4 ,what is sowed--,precious seed4 #b4 ,the manner of sowing it--,goeth forth and weepeth4 ,he dwelt upon weepeth and then said1 ,ministers should go forth at all times4 #c4 ,the fruit--,shall doubtless come again with rejoicing4 ,mr4 ,miller pointed to the certainty of it2 ,mr4 ,m',cheyne assented1 ,yes--doubtless4 ,after praying with him1 ,mr4 ,miller repeated ,matt4 #aa3bh1 upon which ,mr4 ,m',cheyne clasped his hands with great earnestness4 ,as he became worse1 his medical attendants forbade him to be visited4 ,once or twice he asked for me1 and was heard to speak of ,smyrna as if the associations of his illness there were recalled by his burning fever now4 ,i was not at that time aware of his danger1 even the rumor of it had not reached us4 ,next day1 he continued sunk in body and mind1 till about the time when his people met for their usual evening prayer-meeting1 when he requested to be left alone for half an hour4 ,when his servant entered the room again1 he exclaimed1 with a joyful voice4 ,my soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler2 the snare is broken1 and ,i am escaped4 ,his countenance1 as he said this1 bespoke inward peace4 ,ever after he was observed to be happy2 and at supper-time that evening1 when taking a little refreshment1 he gave thanks1 ,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 tribulations1 that we may be able to comfort those that are in any trouble1 by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of ,god4 ,on ,sabbath1 when one expressed a wish that he had been able to go forth as usual to preach1 he replied1 ,my thoughts are not your thoughts1 neither are my ways your ways1 saith the ,lord2 and added1 ,i am preaching the sermon that ,god would have me to do4 ,on ,tuesday 7the #bast7 his sister repeated to him several hymns4 ,the last words he heard1 and the last he seemed to understand1 were those of ,cowper's hymn1 ,sometimes the light surprises the ,christian as he sings4 ,and then the delirium came on4 ,at one time1 during the delirium1 he said to his attendant1 ,mind the text1 ,i ,cor4 #ae3eh--';,be stedfast1 unmoveable1 always abounding in the work of the ,lord1' dwelling with much emphasis on the last clause1 forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the ,lord4 ,at another time he seemed to feel himself among his brethren1 and said1 ,i don't think much of policy in church courts2 no1 ,i hate it2 but ,i'll tell you what ,i like1 faithfulness to ,god1 and a holy walk4 ,his voice1 which had been weak before1 became very strong now2 and often was he heard speaking to or praying for his people4 ,you must be awakened in time1 or you will be awakened in everlasting torment1 to your eternal confusion4 ,you may soon get me away1 but that will not save your souls4 ,then he prayed1 ,this parish1 ,lord1 this people1 this whole place6 ,at another time1 ,do it thyself1 ,lord1 for thy weak servant4 ,and again1 as if praying for the saints1 ,holy ,father1 keep through thine own name those whom ,thou hast given me4 ,thus he continued most generally engaged1 while the delirium lasted1 either in prayer or in preaching to his people1 and always apparently in happy frame1 till the morning of ,saturday the #beth4 ,on that morning1 while his kind medical attendant1 ,dr4 ,gibson1 stood by1 he lifted up his hands as if in the attitude of pronouncing the blessing1 and then sank down4 ,not a groan or a sigh1 but only a quiver of the lip1 and his soul was at rest4 ,as he was subject to frequent sickness1 it was not till within some days of his death that serious alarm was generally felt1 and hence the stroke came with awful suddenness upon us all4 ,that same afternoon1 while preparing for ,sabbath duties1 the tidings reached me4 ,i hastened down1 though scarce knowing why ,i went4 ,his people were that evening met together in the church1 and such a scene of sorrow has not often been witnessed in ,scotland4 ,it was like the weeping for ,king ,josiah4 ,hundreds were there2 the lower part of the church was full3 and none among them seemed able to contain their sorrow4 ,every heart seemed bursting with grief1 so that the weeping and the cries could be heard afar off4 ,the ,lord had most severely wounded the people whom ,he had before so peculiarly favored2 and now1 by this awful stroke of his hand1 was fixing deeper in their souls all that his servant had spoken in the days of his peculiar ministry4 ,wherever the news of his departure came1 every ,christian countenance was darkened with sadness4 ,perhaps1 never was the death of one1 whose whole occupation had been preaching the everlasting gospel1 more felt by all the saints of ,god in ,scotland4 ,not a few also of our ,presbyterian brethren in ,ireland felt the blow to the very heart4 ,he himself used to say1 ,live so as to be missed2 and none that saw the tears that were shed over his death would have doubted that his own life had been what he recommended to others4 ,he had not completed more than twenty-nine years when ,god took him4 ,on the day of his burial1 business was quite suspended in the parish4 ,the streets1 and every window1 from the house to the grave1 were crowded with those who felt that a prince in ,israel had fallen2 and many a careless man felt a secret awe creep over his hardened soul as he cast his eye on the solemn spectacle4 ,his tomb may be seen on the pathway at the north-west corner of ,st4 ,peter's burying-ground4 ,he has gone to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense1 till the day break and the shadows flee away4 ,his work was finished6 ,his heavenly ,father had not another plant for him to water1 nor another vine for him to train2 and the ,saviour who so loved him was waiting to greet him with his own welcome3 ,well done1 good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ,but what is the voice to us8 ,has this been sent as the stroke of wrath1 or the rebuke of love8 ,his way is in the sea1 and his path in the great waters1 and his footsteps are not known4 ,only this much we can clearly see1 that nothing was more fitted to leave his character and example impressed on our remembrance forever than his early death4 ,there might be envy while he lived2 there is none now4 ,there might have been some of the youthful attractiveness of his graces lost had he lived many years2 this cannot be impaired now4 ,it seems as if the ,lord had struck the flower from its stem1 ere any of the colors had lost their bright hue1 or any leaf of fragrance4 ,well may the flock of ,st4 ,peter's lay it to heart4 ,they have had days of visitation4 ,ye have seen the right hand of the ,lord plucked out of his bosom8 ,what shall the unsaved among you do in the day of the ,lord's anger8 ,if thou hadst known1 even thou1 at least in this thy day1 the things which belong to thy peace6 ,it has been more than once the lot of ,scotland 7as was said in the days of ,durham7 to enjoy so much of the ,lord's kindness1 as to have men to lose whose loss has been felt to the very heart--witnesses for ,christ1 who saw the ,king's face and testified of his beauty4 ,we cannot weep them back2 but shall we not call upon ,him with whom is the residue of the ,spirit1 that ere the ,lord come4 ,he would raise up men1 like ,enoch1 or like ,paul1 who shall reach nearer the stature of the perfect man1 and bear witness with more power to all nations8 ,are there not 7as he who has left us used to hope7 better ministers in store for ,scotland than any that have yet arisen8 ,ministers of ,christ1 does not the ,lord call upon us especially8 ,many of us are like the angel of the church of ,ephesus3 we have works1 and labor1 and patience1 and cannot bear them that are evil1 and we have borne1 and for his name's sake we labor1 and have not fainted2 but we want the fervor of first love4 ,oh how seldom now do we hear of fresh supplies of holiness arriving from the heavenly places 7,eph4 #a3c7--new grace appearing among the saints1 and in living ministers6 ,we get contented with our old measure and kind1 as if the windows of heaven were never to be opened4 ,few among us see the lower depths of the horrible pit2 few ever enter the inner chambers of the house of ,david4 ,but there has been one among us who1 ere he had reached the age at which a priest in ,israel would have been entering on his course1 dwelt at the ,mercy-seat as if it were his home1--preached the certainties of eternal life with an undoubting mind1--and spent his nights and days in ceaseless breathings after holiness1 and the salvation of sinners4 ,hundreds of souls were his reward from the ,lord1 ere he left us2 and in him have we been taught how much one man may do who will only press farther into the presence of his ,god1 and handle more skilfully the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 and speak more boldly for his ,god4 ,we speak much against unfaithful ministers1 while we ourselves are awfully unfaithful6 ,are we never afraid that the cries of souls whom we have betrayed to perdition through our want of personal holiness1 and our defective preaching of ,christ crucified1 may ring in our ears forever8 ,our ,lord is at the door4 ,in the twinkling of an eye our work will be done4 ,awake1 awake1 ,o arm of the ,lord1 awake as in the ancient days1 till every one of thy pastors be willing to impart to the flock1 over which the ,holy ,ghost has made him overseer1 not the gospel of ,god only1 but also his own soul4 ,and oh that each one were able1 as he stands in the pastures feeding thy sheep and lambs1 to look up and appeal to ,thee3 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things6 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee6 ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america ,,transcriber',s ,,notes3 ,underscores 7text7 indicate text italicised in the original book1 as in the last line of printed book 7above74 ,footnotes were moved from individual pages to the end of the affected paragraph4 ,this e-book is a reproduction of an original that itself is an excerpt of a larger work1 as stated in the ,publisher's ,preface4 ,there were a number of spelling and punctuation errors1 too numerous to detail1 that were corrected in this version of the book4 ,there are also a number of stylistic differences between the works including format of references 7e4g4 ,roman vs4 decimal numbers71 italics and poetry indentings4 ,in these instances1 this e-book has been made to follow the excerpted reprint1 and not the original1 larger work4