picturesque promontories which overshadow the south-side of Auld Reekie, to becoming master of the construction of the Latin classics. Still, the teachings, example, and influence of his uncle were most salutary, and, it would appear, were received with some degree of alacrity. The sabbath was spent, not only during church hours, but during the evenings, as the austere but fine old spirit of the champions of the Covenant loved to observe it. A gospel minister was regularly heard; and then, immediately after tea," the whole family were assembled in uncle's room, viz., we three brothers, the female servant, and an apprentice. Each was asked to tell the texts and what they remembered of the sermons they had heard during the day; then a third part of the questions in the Shorter Catechism were asked, to which we repeated the answers in rotation. He then took one of the questions as it came in course, from which, off-hand, he asked us a number of questions, for the trial of our judgment and informing of our judgments. The service was concluded by singing two verses of a psalm, and uncle offering a most pious prayer for a blessing on the evening exercises."

Just so and similar are the modes which obtain at many firesides in Scotland-say among the bonnet-lairds of the west of Scotland, or rather the descendants of those who were frequently distinguished by such a characteristic title; although we must confess that not less changed have been the forms and attentions to worship in many families whose ancestors were the salt of the earth, than the fashion of dress. Still, and to this day, there is in many a street of Edinburgh and Glasgow-many a town and village of Old Scotlandmany a neuk, and at many an ingle-the gladdening, as well as the sacred exercises observed, to which young Campbell was habituated. But how gloomy, repulsive, or wearisome to the young nature! No. "From the variety that we attended to, we did not weary in the service; indeed, I do not recollect one of us ever yawning during it. This way of keeping the sabbath deeply impressed us with its sanctity. Had I heard a boy whistle, or a man laugh loud, or overheard the sound of an instrument of music from a house, I was actually shocked. We were never permitted to cross the threshold of the door on the Lord's day, except when going to worship. Some might conclude from all this that we must have been a gloomy, morose family; but the fact was the reverse. Uncle was a cheerful man, possessing peace of mind, and the prospect of a happy eternity! He was for a long time ill before he died, and for weeks before he expired his agony was almost intolerable; his moanings were incessant night and day; for years after his death I never heard the mourning of a dove but I was reminded of him. I do not know what his disease was, but I recollect hearing people call it a burning at the heart.""

This is touching-it is fine-but not sickly; for it is true to the

life. "We were never permitted to cross the threshold of the door on the Lord's day, except when going to worship." How hard! some one may exclaim. Well, what would you have had to be done with boys in a large town on Sundays? Let them roam beyond a parent's or a guardian's eye? Or would you prefer to uncle's catechisings and teachings, the miscellaneous conversations, the readings of your Dispatches, as is the practice with multitudes of decent people? Then, we say, that the satisfaction and the improvement of the mind, without referring at all to religion, fall wonderfully short of what are experienced from the more reasonable service. Nay, he who hies him forth with angling-rod on the summer sabbath's morning, and to participate in all that the beauties of landscape, and the exercise of a graceful, poetic pastime can yield, knows not half the pleasure, tastes not one tithe of the blessings, which the farmer or the peasant's family drink when singly each may take his solitary walk among the hedge-rows of the surrounding fields, and disturbs nothing that is alive; but, on the contrary, is prompted to converse with the mute or harmless things around him, if not to commune with his own heart. Yes, a noisy sabbath, or one frivolously spent, is a contradiction not less. offensive than it is to meet with a young and beautiful woman who affects to despise holy things.

The uncle's example and instructions produced lasting impressions upon the minds of his nephews. After having arrived at a suitable age, they made "a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, by becoming members of a Presbyterian Christian Church, and by establishing regular worship in the family, morning and evening; and each of the brothers taking his turn to officiate by rotation. On afterwards comparing notes together, we found that reflecting on the uniform consistent and upright conduct of our uncle led each of us to think seriously about the salvation of his own soul."

But it was John's lot to have for a number of years to wrestle with convictions, and to find no permanent rest. He read religious and devotional works-sought with all his might for solace; but found no relief, until at length he says, it "was gradually effected by God." He must have been a man of keen feelings, and of a temperament that was extremely sensitive. His mental paroxysms were therefore dreadful for a long time, and they are described with painful particularity:-" I did not see that hope in Christ alone produced and maintained alone evidences of grace, but thought it necessary first to search for the evidences, and then to proceed to hope in the atoning blood of Jesus, as a person entitled on this ground to hope." "I can take comfort from nothing-heart from nothing, till I perform something myself. I cannot look to God but as my enemy, who will have no mercy upon me until I perform some repentance or humiliation;" which he designates the "old

covenant spirit." Yet, "he never abandoned or abated public duty at all, or private devotion long." At last,

"Upon the evening of the twenty-sixth of January, 1795, the Lord appeared as my deliverer. He commanded, and darkness was turned into light. The cloud which covered the mercy-seat fled away! Jesus appeared as he is! My eyes were not turned inward but outward! The gospel was the glass in which I beheld him. When our Lord first visited Saul upon the highway, he knew in a moment that it was the Lord. So did I. Such a change of views, feelings, and desires suddenly took place in my mind, as none but the hand of an infinite Operator could produce. Formerly I had a secret fear that it was presumption in me to receive the great truths of the gospel; now there appeared no impediment,─I beheld Jesus as the speaker in his word, and speaking to me. When he said Come,' I found no difficulty in replying Yes, Lord! thy pardoned rebel comes. If not the grace of God, what else could effect such a marvellous change? I chiefly viewed the atonement of Jesus as of infinite value, as a price paid for my redemption, and cheerfully accepted by the Father. I saw love in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all harmonizing in pardoning and justifying me. The sight humbled and melted my soul. Looking to what I felt was no help to comfort, it came directly from God, through his word.

"The following evening, about nine o'clock, while sitting before the fire, writing to a reverend friend, I had such a charming, surprising view of sovereign, pardoning, redeeming, unmerited mercy, that I was hardly able to bear it. The great doctrines of redemption, as stated in the Bible, opened to my view in a way I never experienced before. I beheld a crucified Jesus nigh me in the word; I threw away the pen, and turned about to see this great sight! I looked stedfastly to the Lamb suffering for me! So much was I overpowered with the magnitude of this discovery of eternal boundless love and grace in Christ, that I felt a difficulty in breathing. "This view of my redeeming God in Christ completely swept away all the terrible horrors which had so long brooded over my mind, leaving not a wreck behind, but filling me with joy and peace more than human— truly divine. I sat pensive, at one time beholding the pit from whence I was redeemed, at another, the hope to which I was raised. My soul rushed out in wonder, love and praise, emitted in language like this,'Wonderful mercy! why me? what is this? Thanks be to God who giveth me the victory through Jesus Christ, my Lord!' Shuddering at sin, as pardoned, wondering that ever I could have been guilty of such transgressions, I continued sitting, wrapped up in silent wonder. For long after, when I thought of my hopes, I leaped with joy-I really had a glad heart. His visitation also created an extent of mildness and complacency in my temper that I never felt before. I felt a burning love rising in my heart to all the brethren in Christ. I earnestly breathed after their incorporation into the family of Christ.

"A light shone upon the Scriptures quite new to me. Passages which formerly appeared hard to be understood, seemed plain as the A B C. Earthly crowns, sceptres, and thrones, appeared quite paltry in my eyes,

and not worth desiring. I felt a complete contentment with my lot in life. I trembled to think of any abatement of my faith, love and sensibility it required resolution to be resigned to remain long in the world. Indeed, I could scarce admit the idea of long life: I feared the trials and vicissitudes connected with it; but was completely silenced with that noble saying of our reigning Redeemer, My grace is sufficient for thee.' I saw I was sufficiently warranted to mind the things of to-day; leaving the concerns of to-morrow to his wise disposal. I felt it easy to introduce spiritual conversation wherever I was, and to recommend Christ wherever 1 went. I saw that everything acceptable to God, or comfortable to ourselves, was the product of divine power."

6

There are persons who will regard this as sheer cant and bypocrisy. Others will look upon it as the ravings of an enthusiast, a fanatic, a person strongly deluded. It should be borne in mind, however, that the narrator penned the account when he was far advanced in years; that from the period he describes he was a consistent professor, eminent for Christian virtues, and that the sentiments and persuasion we have just now quoted were to the close of his days entertained-were his solace and hope to the end; and that, while he was one of the most unwearied labourers in behalf of the everlasting interests of his fellow men, he was universally esteemed as a man, and admired as a missionary and a minister. That his natural temperament was lively, and his feelings were readily stirred to emotion, is probable enough; so that what he considered to be a sudden perception and complete comprehension of revealed truth, after sore conflicts of doubt and despair, would operate in the palpable manner he has described.

Although Mr. Campbell had attached himself to the Church of Scotland, circumstances occurred, and opinions came to be entertained by him, which gradually weaned him from that communion. The Kirk was at that period not so distinguished as it is now, on account of the number and talents of its evangelical pastors. That, indeed, was the very time when a striking change and movement took place in Mr Campbell's native country in religious sentiments. And to him, and to those to whom he at length joined himself, the revolution and the revival in question have by many been in a great measure attributed. In the volume before us will be found a good deal of information on this subject, and concerning the chief actors in the field, your Haldanes, your Ewings, &c.,-wealth and zeal uniting in the case of some of the individuals alluded to, which enabled them to surmount difficulties, and to achieve works of great magnitude. The leaders in this new society appear to have been in the habit of casting their thoughts around, eager to catch hold of any scheme that would awaken people in a spiritual sense. Their views extended even to Africa; the plan at first contemplated being to bring to this country some negro children from Sierra

Leone, in order to have them educated and returned to instruct others of the same race. Let us here quote the words of Mr. Campbell :

"About a year and a half after this, I was invited by Mr. Haldane to meet a few excellent Christians who were to sup at his house. At one time there was a short pause in the conversation, when, I suppose, every one was thinking what topic he could start. A Mr. Alexander Pitcairn, who sat opposite to me, said, 'Mr. C., what is become of your African scheme? I have not heard anything of it for a long time.' No one present could possibly have imagined that the conversion and everlasting salvation of thousands was connected with Mr. P. asking that question. To which I replied, 'It is put off to the peace!' which created a general smile, as few expected peace till Buonaparte had got the world under his feet. Mr. Haldane asked from the head of the table, what African scheme I had, never having heard of it? This I answered as briefly as I could, but added, I had another scheme in my head, as important as the African one.' 'What is that?' 'To have a Tabernacle built in Edinburgh.' 'What is that?' asked Mr. Haldane. The Tabernacle in London is a large place of worship supplied by popular ministers of different denominations, coming up from the country, and preaching for a month. The crowds it attracts, and the good that has been done, are very great.' All agreed that such a thing was desirable. 'Who could be got to supply

it?' I mentioned Rowland Hill and other English ministers. • Could a large place be obtained for a year on trial, before proceeding to building?' 'Yes, the use of the Circus may be got for sabbaths; as the Relief congregation, who have had it while their new place was building, are on the eve of leaving it.' When I first proposed the Circus, Mr. Haldane turned to a certain lawyer who was present, saying, Mr. D., will you inquire about it to-morrow, and if it be to let, take it for a year?'

"It was secured the next day; Rowland Hill was invited; he consented to come; and did come in the month of May or June. The place was crowded, even at seven o'clock in the morning, and in the evenings, if the weather was good, no place could have contained the crowds that came to hear; they mounted to near the summit of the Calton-hill, where there was a spot resembling an amphitheatre, as if excavated to hold a congregation of 10,000, which number, I believe, sometimes attended him."

The narrative goes on to inform us that on one occasion a collection was made by Rowland's congregation for the City Charity Workhouse, when about thirty pounds sterling was the amount, almost entirely composed of coppers. Many persons were converted, says Mr. Campbell, and amongst them were some who had been grossly immoral characters. "Even some soldiers attended a prayer-meeting. A woman, at her own door, was overheard to say, 'Oh, Sir, what will become of us now, when the very soldiers are beginning to pray?" We think that the narrator's insinuation