IV. We agree with him as to the widowed and miserable condition of the church until he comes again. Her lot in his absence is one of tribulation and persecution.

V. We agree with him as to the resurrection and the resurrection state being that on which the believer's eye should rest. VI. We agree with him as to the renewed earth being the future dwelling-place of the Redeemer and the redeemed.

There are other points also of lesser prominence in which we approach somewhat near him. But these are the chief. On many others we totally differ. Our differences, however, we must reserve for another article. To that article we look forward with some little apprehension. Not that we feel the position we mean to take up an insecure one, or are afraid to avow it. No. What we do hold, we hold as decidedly and thoroughly as Mr Brown does, though we shall not just venture to call our arguments 'immoveable.' But our fear is respecting our own infirmities, lest we should be betrayed into hot or sharp expressions, treating with contempt or disrespect the opinion or the argument of a brother. We may marvel at times how certain opinions could be held, and certain texts interpreted in a sense so very different from what appears to us the true; but we shall endeavour to abstain from insinuating that no one would ever take such a view of the passage but for certain inconveniences attending it.' We may at times think certain theories untenable and unscriptural; but we shall try to avoid hard or derisive names, which may after all betoken only an undue self-confidence on our part, or an unconscious bias which unfits us for appreciating or even understanding any theory save our own. We may perhaps discern very clearly a long train of inferences from the doctrine of our opponents,-inferences which appear to us logically irresistible and doctrinally most preposterous; but we shall try to keep ourselves from supposing that all those inferences of ours must form the creed of our opponents, and that because certain things appear to us incompatible with certain others, they must be so in reality. We may think some reasonings inconclusive enough; but we shall not irritate a brother by telling him that they are not worth the name of arguments,' or fitted only to provoke a smile. Our thinking that the opinions of certain brethren in Christ are erroneous, is no reason why we should call them ‘hallucinations, or wild speculations and reveries." Mr Brown speaks truly of the sweet spirit' of one writer, and the gentle pen' of another. Our prayer is, that that spirit and that pen may be ours. They are much needed in this day of warfare and excitement and hasty speech. Our weapons are not carnal; nor ought our speech to be. If it be, we are but borrowing the world's rude weapons, and are more concerned to overthrow an

adversary than to win a brother. Men in earnest we ought in good truth to be. Our business, however, is not to wrangle about our Lord's appearing, but to try who shall find out most truth respecting it, who shall most fully understand our Lord's meaning, and who shall best instruct his brethren therein, winning them. by his meekness, not repelling them by his sharpness or unpliable tenacity.

In dealing with an opponent, it is well sometimes to consider the possibility of our being, perchance, in error.. This does not make us less decided, but it tends to abate self-confidence and dogmatism, as well as to make us more respectful towards his opinions, no less than towards himself. It may be well enough for me to slight or smile at his views, if it is utterly impossible for him to be right, or me to be wrong; but WHAT, AFTER ALL, IF THE SLIGHTED TENETS SHOULD BE TRUE? What if coming ages should evolve in harmonious reality that very theory which I have been accustomed to deride as a mis-shapen fable or a disordered dream?

ART. II.-Sermons by the late Rev. David Welsh, D.D., with a Memoir, by A. DUNLOP, Esq., Advocate. Edinburgh: W. P. Kennedy, 1846.

WHAT God intends at particular junctures in giving us particular men, is not in general difficult to discover. But what he means in taking them away, is not so easily discerned. A little observation and shrewdness will soon tell us the former, for most frequently the leading circumstances of the times proclaim it very distinctly. But it requires oftentimes minuteness of observation and comprehensiveness of judgment to come to right conclusions as to the latter.

Why He should clothe the bald forehead of yon overhanging rock with its rich veil of verdant moss, or plant its crevices with the bright summer rose, is not hard to say. Any moralist or sentimentalist will inform us in a breath. But why at the height and prime of its green beauty he should send forth the lightning stroke, splintering the rock, and stripping off its gay covering which gladdened so many eyes, is a mystery. It is a simple fact, and no more. It is not a miracle. By no means. It occurred

according to the laws of unswerving nature. No one could wonder at it as something supernatural. Yet who could have answered the question, For what end was this done? The how was easy to tell; the why inscrutable.

It is thus that one feels inclined to moralize in reading such a biography as the present. We think we can point out with to

lerable accuracy and certainty the reasons for which Dr Welsh was raised up among us at the particular juncture, or rather during the many critical years in which we waged such noble, yet disastrous warfare with civil encroachment and oppression; but why he should have been cut down so soon in the strength of his prime, when as yet the vigour of his youth was upon him, and the Church might have expected much service at his hands, is a question too hard for us to answer. His work was done. We may assuredly say, that even though we see much more work that he might have done, his services were no longer needed here by God, and his voice was needed above to swell the song of the redeemed. Therefore God took him, though we desired his longer tarriance here, and anticipated continued service in the Church below. And, farther, God would teach us that man is no prop nor staff for us to lean upon. 'Cursed is the man that trusteth in man.' We had run into this sin, and were fast running into it still more. God smote our props, and left us no stay but himself. These are manifest reasons; and, so far as they go, satisfactory, as well as solemn. But they do not account for the whole of these dark providences that sweep away our men of might, and leave us at times panic-struck and helpless.

The Free Church suffered much in the loss of Dr Welsh. He was one whom we could but ill spare. 'He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one.' He was thoroughly and all over a student; and in consequence, a man of information, learning, research. No mere bookworm, but a deep-thinking man, with a well-arranged mind, and an intellect that could originate thought for itself, as well as digest and circulate the thoughts of others. Clear in reasoning, close in logic, accurate in perception, he was fitted to lead men on securely and steadily in the path of truth, whether metaphysical or historical. In the pursuits of his calling, laborious and unwearied; satisfied with no secondary place among his fellows, yet simple and unambitious. Gentle and easy to be entreated,' yet bold and resolute in the way of duty. Kind and affable, both in private and public; plain of speech, yet with much of keen quiet humour in his composition, which sometimes came forth with unexpected promptness and pleasant flow. A man of God, yet a man of learning. A minister of Christ, yet a learned and zealous teacher of youth. He has left us, and we mourn. He has gone out, like a star, ere the night was done, when his radiance was sorely needed. Yet the hand that withdrew his light, was the same that had kindled it, and placed it in our northern firmament fifty-two years before. Therefore are we dumb, because He did it, even though we be consumed with the stroke of his hand.'

6

We pass over the early years both of the life and of the ministry of Dr Welsh, merely recording that he was born on the 11th of December 1793, at Braefoot, in the parish of Moffat, and county of Dumfries, that he was the child of believing parents who gave him early to God, that he commenced his education at Edinburgh High School, and finished it at Edinburgh College; that he was licensed to preach the gospel in 1816, and ordained to the ministry at Crossmichael in 1820; that during the first two years of his residence there, he wrote his well-known life of Dr Brown. Here we linger for a little to introduce the following specimen of his inner life,' his walk with God.

"1823.-9th February. Sunday.—Oh I am backward to spiritual things. Oh Lord, shed abroad thy love in my heart, by thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake,-Amen and amen. Enable me to cultivate simplicity and godly sincerity. I feel much attached to my people; but little, little, anxiety for their eternal souls. Enable me to be more zealous in this respect.

"I read and think a good deal, but consult too much the inclination of the hour. Give me strength to do what my hand findeth to do. Enable me, oh Lord, to make this my constant feeling, Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do?'

"March 16.-Still the old heart; my journey dissipated my devotions. Often have given scope to thoughtlessness and folly; and when I would do good, evil is present with me. Oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this lukewarmness and unstaidness. This day lay half an hour after I ought to have got up. Indulged in idle thoughts while dressing, and, consequently, my heart wandered at family devotion. Conversation with -, unprofitable, and so forth. wretched man that I am.

Oh

"I depend too much on my own judgment and strength of my own resolution, and too little upon the grace of God and ordinances. Oh Lord, enable me to improve, for Christ's sake. Amen.

"March 23.-It is now two years since my ordination, and what a minister I have been! May the Lord forgive me, and enable me to be more diligent and faithful, and more impressed myself with the truths I preach to others. Amen.

"1825.-July 21. Fast day.-Job xl. 4. Behold I am vile; what shall I answer to thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.'

"Coldness in my morning devotions. Did not connect my view sufficiently with immediate duties. Too much, 19. 32. and 11. in my conversation with Presented worldly views too much to Wandering of heart and deadness in church. Behold I am vile. O Lord have mercy.

"Considerable benefit, and great pleasure, in reading Erskine's Evidences. Unbelief powerful still. Lord, increase my faith.

1826-July 7.-It is dangerous to speak of self at all, even in blame, for self is the object; and though there is a show of humility, 10. 11. (self-esteem and love of approbation) will continue to find unlawful gra

tification, and even in writing, this should be guarded against. Thus with last night, the constructiveness of 10. 11. is most melancholy, and should be subject of most constant and earnest prayer. There cannot be a proper feeling of the evil of sin, if 10. 11. find any gratification in speaking of our own sins at all. Frames and feelings may, under certain circumstances, be made the subject of conversation, but great care and vigilance to be used, and current of our words should rather be directed unto Jesus.

"31st December, Sunday.-Preached to-day on the duty of taking a review of the past year."-Pp. 31–33.

In 1827, he was translated to Glasgow, and in 1831, he was appointed to the chair of Church History in Edinburgh. It is the period of his residence in this latter city that is the most eventful in his life. And though the details recorded by his biographer are fresh in the memory of all, yet the admirable succinctness and consecutiveness with which they are here narrated, render this portion of the memoir intensely interesting. Indeed the skill and vigour with which, not only their latter pages, but the whole biography is written, is worthy of commendation. Few could have accomplished the task with such wisdom and delicacy. But our object is not so much to criticise or commend the historian as to bring out the character and life of Dr Welsh himself. following extract from one of his private papers is affecting. It shows us the pastor as well as the professor. It is a discovery of the pastor's heart, which interests us more than the manifestation of the professor's intellect. What student can read it without solemn emotion? What professor or teacher of youth can read it without being aroused or encouraged?

The

"The following memorandum, found among his documents, and bearing date at the commencement of a College session, shows his feelings in regard to his class, his lowly views as to his own fulfilment of his duties, and the strength in which he sought to perform these:

'STUDENTS.

"Want of feeling of responsibility in regard to them. "Want of secret prayer for their benefit.

"Want of speaking to them in private, as to their own souls, and their views, prospects, and responsibilities.

"Want of watching for seasonable opportunities for introducing a word of counsel-encouragement.

"Lectures not composed with a view to their benefit in every respect. More for my own credit and character, and in agreement to my own taste, than for their good.

"Prayer in morning in class, not studied beforehand with a view to their wants.

"In offering up prayer and delivering lectures, too much wandering of thought and self-seeking.

"In these deficiencies there is matter for the deepest humiliation and