On feeing a young Man far gone in a Decline. Fake my laft long leave of you; AREWELL, ye fweet and flowery scenes, Ye purling rills, and fertile plains, And death ftands knocking at my door? And there my weary eyes fhall close. And all my bleeding wounds upbind. Paint fair the blifs beyond the skies, And tho' once loft, yet now am fav'd. Aberdeen, Aug. 18, 1795. PROBUS, Of BEHAVIOUR in PUBLIC WORSHIP. TE'ER let thy thoughts unheeding ftray, NE Nor mingle with thy prayer and praise The vain conceit, the idle gaze. For others an example draw, Arminian Magazine, For APRIL 1796. The Life of Mr. JOHN TUFFIE, an Officer in the 44th regiment of foot, who died in Holland in the year 1794 By Mr. JAMES ANDERSON. MY Y first acquaintance with Mr. TUFFIE, commenced in the year 1789, at the town of Ayr in Scotland, where the regiment to which he belonged was then ftationed, and where I was appointed to labour; it being the first year of my officiating as an itinerant preacher. Here I had frequent opportunities of obferving his exemplary piety and uniform chriftian behaviour, both in public and private, which evinced him to be a man truly devoted to God. His family at that time confifted of his amiable confort, and two fons, with whom he never omitted the duties of focial religion, but daily exercifed himself with them in reading the Scripture, finging hymns, and prayer; nor would he fo much as eat a morfel of bread, without acknowledging the kind hand of his heavenly Father, and praifing him for the mercy bestowed. He frequently met the clafs to which he belonged, and a divine unction accompanied his affectionate exhortations to the people. In the prayer-meetings he poured out his foul in a moft fervent manner, not only for the Church of Chrift, and the little fociety to which he belonged, but likewife for the converfion of those unhappy finners who had no fear of God before their eyes. His attachment to perfons of a religious character was fincere and difinterested; but especially the poor of the flock, claimed his notice and peculiar regard: The apostle's injunction, "Mind not high things, but condefcend to men of low eftate," he confcientioufly regarded; and when neceffary affairs required his presence with perfons of opulence and power, he difpatched the bufinefs with all expedition, and returned with fatisfaction to enjoy the converfation of the humble followers of the Redeemer. His converfation was not only lively and ufeful, but fpiritual and heavenly, conveying inftruction and adminiftering grace to thofe with whom he converfed. And notwithstanding his conduct appeared fingular in the eyes of the world, yet his genteel and manly de portment, tempered with humanity and candefcenfion, gained him the esteem and affection both of the officers and private men belonging to the regiment. Since his death, I have heard fome of the foldiers fpeak of him with great affection, and in plaintive ftrains regretting his lofs. VOL XIX. April, 1796. Y Mr. Mr. Tuffie's natural difpofition was lively and animated, which being regulated by the power of vital Religion, and ardent love to the Redeemer, made him appear with peculiar advantage when fpeaking of the things of God; and induced all his acquaintance who had a relifh for Religion, to embrace with pleasure, every opportunity of enjoying his converfation; because there were always fomething to be learned from him: And for my own part, I fincerely acknowledge, that I ever efteemed it a fingular priviJege to fit at his feet, and liften to his ferious, edifying difcourfe. He enjoyed a large measure of communion with God: and altho' when in company he was attentive and obliging to every one, yet it was easy to perceive that his heart was in Heaven, and that he conftantly maintained a blessed intercourse and fellowship with his adorable Lord. Being brought up in the Church of England, he was naturally attached to its forms and ceremonies, particularly in receiving the Lord's Supper. But when he came into Scotland, his good fenfe and piety foon gained the afcendency over the prejudice of education, and he gladly united with the people in partaking of the ordinance in their own way. Our chapel at Ayr had formerly been a large ftable, but the mean appearance of the place was no obftacle to him. He ardently loved the Word of God wherever he could hear it; and the folemn attention he manifefted, indicated a mind employed in fecret prayer, that the Word might be bleffed both to himself and the people. It was his conftant method to make the best use of every remark. able occurrence he met with, for the edification of those with whom he converfed. One Sunday evening while Mr. Jonathan Thompson was preaching, a pious gentleman was feized with an apoplectic fit, and fell down by the fide of Mr. Tuffie. This awful difpenfation of Providence, Mr. Tuffie failed not to improve, both to his own advantage, and that of his fellow-travellers to Zion, impreffing upon their minds the fhortnefs of time, the uncertainty of our exiftence here, and the neceffity of being always prepared to meet our God. During Mr. Tuffie's refidence in America, he frequently offici ated as chaplain to the regiment, and preached to the foldiers, for * This gentleman (Mr. Anderfon) had been a minifter in the Church of Scotland many years. He lived a few days after the stroke of apoplexy, and notwithstanding he was deprived of his fpeech, yet his fpirit and temper demonftrated him to be a Chriftian indeed, full of peace and love; and he died with a heavenly smile on his countenance expreffive of the complete victory he obtained, through Chrift, over fin, death, and hell, and of that fullness of bliss he was going to poffefs in the prefence of God and the Lamb. I afked Mr. Anderfon, a few minutes before his decease, if he was happy? He answered, by lifting up his hand again and again, as if he wifhed to fay, "I am happy; perfectly happy; and am just now entering into the joy of my Lord," |