and confidence over the wan face of departing na

ture.

the sick.

He was peculiarly tender and felicitous in visiting "His own experience in the ways of God, and the great depths of troubles and sorrows, doubts and fears, whereby awakened consciences are exercised, into which he himself was often plunged, eminently qualified him for assisting and comforting others in the like circumstances, for strengthening the weak hands, and confirming the feeble knees; and could not miss to beget in him that affectionate concern for poor souls, those bowels of tenderness and sympathy, which can never be found with any but such who themselves have had a feeling acquaintance with the methods of the spiritual life, and the work of the Holy Spirit in their own hearts and lives. And it were easy to enlarge upon the common dexterity which this excellent person had in improving sickness, and the approaches of the King of Terrors, to the advantage of those who were exposed to them; so that though instances of a deathbed repentance rarely happen, and it be indeed infinite madness to delay to the last hour that work, which is of eternal consequence, yet there wanted not evidence of the divine blessing upon his endcavours to reclaim sinners, and call them to God, even in the last hour."

He had a happy tact of turning his amusement and time for exercise, a considerable portion of which the state of his health required, into great usefulness to others. Fishing and fowling were his favourite recreations. In his rambles in the field, or

by the river, he frequently met with persons in his parish who were not to be gained by the preaching of the gospel from the pulpit, but were delighted to hear the sportsman talk, although they never could be induced to hear the minister exhort. The minister of Christ, however, lay concealed under the fowler's habit, and he frequently gained those whose ignorance and waywardness scowled defiance at the church, to become regular attendants on divine ordinances, while he tried to bring the trout to the shore, and the partridge to the ground. Such experiments, however, are not to be tried, but by those ministers of the gospel, who, like Mr. Guthrie, have their Master's interest paramount to every other, lest the pointer and the fishing-hook become greater objects of attachment, than the instruments of winning souls to Christ.

Two instances are worthy of notice, of his happy manner in winning the most ignorant and stubborn of his flock to attend divine ordinances, while he was in the habiliments of a sportsman. The facts are taken from his life, in the "Biographia Scoticana."

"There was one person in particular whom he would have to perform family-worship, who told him that he could not pray; and he asked what was the reason? He replied, O Lord, thou knowest that this man would have me to pray, but thou knowest that I cannot pray?' After which Mr. Guthrie bid him stop, and said he had done enough; and prayed himself, to their great surprise. After this he engaged them to come to the kirk on Sabbath, and see what they thought of their minister. When

they came there, they discovered to their consternation, that it had been their minister himself who had allured them thither."

"There was also another person in his parish, who had a custom of going a-fowling on the Sabbath-day, and neglecting the church; in which practice he had continued for a considerable time. Mr. Guthrie asked him, what was the reason he had for so doing? He told him, that the Sabbath-day was the most fortunate day in all the week. Mr. Guthrie asked, what he could make by that day's exercise? He replied that he would make half-acrown. Mr. Guthrie told him if he would go to church on Sabbath, he would give him as much;

After sermon

and by that means got his promise. was over, Mr. Guthrie asked, if he would come back the next Sabbath-day, and he would give him the same? which he did, and from that time afterwards never failed to keep the church. wards became a member of his session."

He after

His fluency and acuteness, command of temper, a powerful observer of the minds and tendencies of others, with his agreeable manners and extensive knowledge, made him a distinguished member of church-courts-in the debates and business of which

he took a considerable share. He was the person, who, in the Synod of Glasgow, held April, 1661, presented the draught of an address to the Parliament, in order the better to secure the privileges of the Church and the purity of religion in Scotland. The Synod approved of it, as "containing a faithful testimony of the purity of our reformation in worship,

doctrine, discipline, and government, in terms equally remarkable for their prudence and their courage." But the great agitation of the times prevented its transmission.

In his session his candour and humility were as conspicuous, as his talents and learning in the higher church-courts. During the whole time of his ministry there never happened the slightest irruption in his session. Perfect confidence always existed between his elders and him. So that the discipline of his parish was maintained with vigour, and with perfect harmony.

Such was the person introduced to the parochial charge of Fenwick, and such were his talents and manner in the discharge of his official duties.

He had not been above a twelvemonth settled, when he married Agnes Campbell, daughter of David Campbell, Esq. of Skeldon, in Ayrshire, a remote branch of the Loudon family. This connection proved a happy one. The happy disposition of his own mind was increased by the amiable qualities of his wife. To a handsome form and fine features, she added the more substantial beauties of good sense, an excellent education, great sweetness of temper, and a humility of mind, which was too deep to arise from any thing less than the proper view she took of herself in the gospel. Of six children, the offspring of their union, two only survived them, both daughters, who showed by their piety and eminent qualities, that the care, and attention, and example of their parents, were well bestowed. One was married to Miller of Glenlee, a gentleman in

Ayrshire; and the other became the wife of the Rev. Patrick Warner, December 1381, and was a great source of comfort to him, "in tribulation, imprisonment, and banishment, for the truth's sake." Their daughter, Margaret, was married to Mr. Robert Wodrow, minister of Eastwood, near Glasgow, who has given so faithful an account of the history of the Church of Scotland, and the lives of many of her most distinguished and afflicted sons.*

Shortly after his marriage, he was chosen by the General Assembly, to attend the army as chaplain. To part so soon from an amiable wife, was a severe trial to his feelings, but he yielded to duty, and remained with it, until the party to which he had been attached, suffered discomfiture, when he was wonderfully preserved. The remembrance of his preservation was a source of gratitude to his heavenly Father, during the remainder of his life, and he returned to his parish, with great ardour and devotedness to his sacred duties, and with increased affection for his parish and his home.

His great talents and splendid powers in the pulpit, brought many solicitations to him from several distinguished places to become their pastor. Linlithgow, Stirling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, all in their turn presented calls to him, but without effect. The sacred tie which had bound him at first to Fenwick continued to strengthen, and he would not leave

To Mr. Wodrow we are indebted for the most of the materials of this memoir. The facts not acknowledged are from this source.

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