THE Emperial Magazine; OR, COMPENDIUM OF RELIGIOUS, MORAL, & PHILOSOPHICAL KNOWLEDGE. MAY.] "PERIODICAL LITERATURE IS THE GERM OF NATIONAL LEARNING." MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN MORISON. (With a Portrait.) ALTHOUGH biography, in the abstract, is a species of writing with which almost every reader is pleased, the interest excited depends very much upon the culture and the soil. A congeniality of sentiment, pursuits, and habits of reflection, between the character delineated and the disposition of him who peruses the narrative, essentially contributes to that intensity of feeling from which the pleasure is derived. Hence, the sketch which is highly gratifying to one, will be viewed with indifference by a second, and, perhaps, prove disgusting to a third. Of some individuals the memoirs are rendered intrinsically valuable, by tracing the dawn of intellect, the progress of inquiry, the means of obtaining useful knowledge, the development of mental energies, and the attainment of literary, scientific, or moral excellence. Others, on the contrary, acquire their popularity from the incidents, adventures, contingencies, and localities, with which they happen, adventitiously, to be associated. Nothing, however, can be done without materials, and these it is sometimes exceedingly difficult to procure. Fiction can create both its straw and clay; but fidelity disdains to pass beyond the boundaries of fact. Memorials of living characters have in general many formidable obstacles to surmount, as the source whence genuine information might be obtained, rarely fails to prove difficult of access. Under such circumstances, the biographer feels a delicacy in making an application; and if be assume courage to overcome his timidity, the modesty of him to whom he applies, always dreading the imputation of egotism, vanity, and display, almost invariably conceals the occurrences, anecdotes, and trifles, to which biography is chiefly indebted for that freshness, life, and vigour, with which its paragraphs and pages should be enriched. In all compositions of this description, instruction never appears more attractive than when it is accompanied with entertainment. But it is high time to abandon these reflections, and proceed in the memoir with such materials as we have been able to procure. 137.-VOL. XII. [1830. The Rev. JOHN MORISON, the subject of the accompanying portrait, was born at Millseat, in the parish of King Edward, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 8th of July, 1791. Though not descended from the great ones of the earth, he can boast a lineage far more honourable than many, the names and characters of whose ancestors are associated with rapine and stained with blood. His parents were highly respectable, adorning their station in life with virtues that can never lose their reputation, and particularly exemplary for that care which they exerted to train up their offspring in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Isabella, the mother of Mr. Morison, was distinguished throughout the whole circle of her acquaintance, for the gentleness of her manners, and the warmth of her affections. This amiable woman departed the present life, like a shock of corn fully ripe, on the 15th of June, 1826, leaving behind her a name that will be remembered with feelings of respectful attachment, when "The busto moulders, and the deep ent marble, Unsteady to the steel, gives up its charge." The venerable father of Mr. Morison, who still survives his amiable partner, is famed throughout a wide district of country, for the extent and variety of his reading, the accuracy and depth of his religious knowledge, the lively, instructive, and entertaining peculiarity of his conversation, and the unsullied purity of his character. The early impressions of the truth and excellency of Christianity were made on the mind of this patriarchal man while attending the ministry of the Antiburghers,* who preserved the gospel in great purity in the northern parts of the county of Aberdeen, when, in other connexions and places, there was a great scarcity of faithful preaching. Among this devoted, but at that time somewhat narrow-minded and proscriptive class of religious professors, the elder Mr. Morison cast in his lot, and in The Burghers and Antiburghers were two great bodies, who seceded from the national church of Scotland, upon questions of acknowledged public interest, under the auspices of Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine. These parties, with a few solitary exceptions, are now happily united under the denomination of The United Associate Synod." 2 c 403 Memoir of the Rev. John Morison. 404 this connexion all his children were bap- | cation. In three seminaries, New Byth, tized. Here he continued until they com- Cummingstown, and Turriff, he continued mitted, according to his views, the rash and to prosecute his studies during eight years. unjustifiable act of excluding from their At Turriff, where he remained the longest, body, the late Rev. G. Cowie of Huntly, he enjoyed the valuable instruction of the at that time the greatest ministerial light late Rev. William Panton, under whose that shone in the district in which divine able and affectionate care he was favoured Providence had cast his lot. Bigotry is, with great advantages, and became a rehowever, rarely blessed with acute discern-spectable proficient in classical and other ment. Had Mr. Cowie lived in the present day, those branches of his conduct which were then gravely condemned as irregular, and savouring of latitudinarianism, would have gained him much applause, and a host of friends, as partaking in a large measure of that apostolic zeal and devotedness which constitute the brightest ornament in the mi- | nisterial character. After the exclusion of the Rev. George Cowie, Mr. Morison was only an occasional hearer of the Antiburghers, embracing in the mean while every opportunity of attending the ministry of the preachers belonging to the connexion of Messrs. Haldane and Ewing. Nothing, however, could induce him to return. The wound was too deep to be healed. He, therefore, at last forsook the Antiburghers entirely, and became a member and an elder of the congregational church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Joseph Gibb, late of Banff, but now of Canada; and continues to the present day to rank himself with that denomination of Christians, though not without much kindly feeling towards the Secession Church. Mr. Morison's family consisted of five children, Margaret, Jannet, Isabella, John, and Joseph. Margaret and Isabella died when very young, but the others still survive, and walk in the footsteps of their pious parents. In behalf of his eldest son John, the subject of this memoir, many prayers were offered up to the Almighty by his pious parent, that, being made a partaker of divine grace, he might, if consistent with his holy will, become a messenger of the cross of Christ. Nor was this a vagrant and solitary wish. It began at his birth, and was continued through his infancy and youth; but many years elapsed before any satisfactory answer was given to the petition. Another plan, indeed, had been adopted for his future journey through life, before his mind was visited with light beaming from the Sun of righteousnesss. attainments. Although strictly moral in his deportment, he had reached his sixteenth year before any decided evidences of piety were evinced. His father, therefore, who had intended him for the ministry, and had directed his education accordingly, determined to proceed no farther, lest he should be instrumental in adding one more to a class of teachers, already too numerous, "who have," as Mr. Hill quaintly observes, "been brought up to the trade." Turning from the ministry to business, he directed his son to select for himself some particular branch congenial to his taste and inclination. This was found among the mechanic arts, and he was bound an apprentice to a watchmaker in Banff. Scarcely, however, had he entered on this new sphere of life, before his mind became seriously impressed with the importance and value of eternal realities. This was effected mainly through the instrumentality of the Rev. Joseph Gibb, whose faithful ministry was blessed to the conversion of his soul. In these movements the superintending care of Providence appears conspicuous, for no sooner was he removed from under the watchful eye of his parents, and exposed to temptations in his new situation, than power was imparted from on high, to guard him from their influence. Having given proof of his sincerity, and evinced an active zeal in promoting the welfare of Sunday Schools, his talents, attainments, and ready address, soon revived in the minds of his friends a feeling of his adaptation for the work of the ministry, which had been previously abandoned. It was, therefore, after some deliberation, decided by his pastor, and others interested in his welfare, that he should be released from his apprenticeship, and sent to one of the English Academies, to prepare himself to preach "Christ and him crucified," to perishing sinners. Accordingly, by the kind interposition of the Rev. (now Doctor) John Philip, then of Aberdeen, but since removed Having been taught to read under the to the Cape of Good Hope, he was, in eye of his pious parents, young Mr. Mori- 1811, introduced to Thomas Wilson, esq. son, when about eight years of age, was and became a student under Dr. Simpson, first sent to school, where he soon acquired the Rev. John Hooper, and the Rev. the elementary principles of a liberal edu- | H. F. Burder, at Hoxton Academy, where 405 Memoir of the Rev. John Morison. 406 he continued the usual period, realizing | Psalms, explanatory, critical, and devothe wishes, and gaining the approbation, of his tutors. On the 17th of February, 1815, Mr. Morison, having resolved to devote himself to the Christian ministry, was ordained in Union Chapel, Sloane-street, Chelsea, by the Rev. Dr. Nicol, the Rev. John Hooper, the Rev. John Clayton, and the Rev. George Clayton. Of the congregation assembling in this place, he continued to be the pastor, until July in the following year, when his friends erected for him a new and commodious place of worship in Trevor Square, Brompton; and here, from the period of its opening to the present time, he has regularly officiated, enjoying at once, many tokens of the divine approbation, and the cordial attachment of his numerous hearers. On the 18th of April, 1815, Mr. Morison was united in marriage to Eliza, eldest daughter of the late James Murray, Esq. of Banff. This lady has borne him seven children; two of whom have been removed by death. In the literary and theological world, Mr. Morison has made himself known as the author of several works, which have been received with approbation by the public. These, as may naturally be expected, contain various degrees of merit; but some among them, promising much usefulness, can hardly fail to be remembered with high esteem, when his ministerial career shall have terminated for ever. Of these publications, the titles and order are as follows, but the dates have not been accurately ascertained : "A Funeral Sermon for the Rev. John Clack, late of Hastings," 8vo. "Juvenile Biography," containing memoirs of various persons distinguished by their early piety, 18mo. "A New-Year's Question," 18mo. "A Sermon, preached before the Monthly Meeting, on Congregational Union," 8vo. "Sermons and Expositions on interesting portions of Scripture," 8vo. "Lectures on the Reciprocal Obligations of Life," 12mo. "A Funeral Sermon for Edward Powell, Esq." "A Sermon on Fashionable Amusements," 12mo. "A Sermon before the Monthly Meeting, on the Experimental Evidence of Christianity," 8vo. This is now included in the volume of Discourses on the Evidences of the Gospel, published by the Ministers connected with the Monthly Meeting. "The Bible Class Book," three parts, the remainder to be furnished, 18mo. "The Doctrine of the Millennium,' a Sermon before the Monthly Meeting, 8vo. "An Exposition of the Book of tional," in two vols. 8vo. This work is at present incomplete, a part of the second volume remaining yet unpublished. "Counsels to a Newly-Wedded Pair," 32mo. On glancing over this catalogue it will be instantly perceived, that Mr. Morison's Exposition of the Psalms is his principal publication; and is that, on which his fame with posterity, as a theologian, must chiefly depend. It is a work of considerable merit, and one that has elicited from the pen of the Rev. Thomas Hartwell Horne, M.A., in his "Introduction to the Scriptures," the following testimonial :— "As Bishop Horsley's posthumous work on the Book of Psalms, is chiefly adapted to the use of the scholar and biblical critic, while the well-known and splendid Commentary of Bishop Horne has been thought by many, to partake too much of the systematically prophetic and mystical interpretation, Mr. Morison has performed a very acceptable service to private Christians, as well as to critical students of the sacred volume, in his Exposition of the Book of Psalms. The plan which he has adopted is in every respect deserving of commendation. Adhering strictly to the literal meaning of the text, he is careful at the same time not to overlook either its prophetical or typical character. The authorized version is properly retained, and the exposition follows each successive verse; while the critical notes, often very instructive, are commodiously placed at the foot of the page. Mr. Morison is advantageously known as the author of a volume of Lectures on the Reciprocal Obligations of Life, in which some important topics of Christian ethics, not commonly discussed from the pulpit, are concisely explained, and earnestly enforced on Christian principles and motives."-Horne's Introduction to the Scriptures, Appendix, vol. ii. p. 271. In the year 1824, Mr. Morison was appointed editor of the Evangelical Magazine, to the success of which useful and widely circulated miscellany, his talents and unremitting attention have essentially contributed. In most of the philanthropic exertions of the day he has also taken an active part, having been a secretary of the Hibernian Society, also of the Kensington Auxiliary Bible Society, and more than once a director of the London Missionary Society. As a preacher, Mr. Morison's addresses from the pulpit are characterized, by evangelical doctrine, methodical order, and faithful appeal. By his congregation his ministry is held in high esteem; but what |