ining his past life, in order to discover in what point of duty he had been chiefly defective. But, amidst all this progress in the divine life, one is struck with the humility, nay, with the abasement of soul, which appears in some of his letters. His distrust of himself seems to have kept pace with his confidence in God; and the grief of mind which he expresses on the occasion of any failure in duty, or any transgression of the law of God, gives a lively idea of a heart deeply humbled, and even broken, on account of sin. An extract from one of Mr. Gilpin's sermons still extant, will afford the reader some idea of his doctrinal views. "After that our first parents," says the preacher, "through disobedience and sin, had blotted and disfigured the lively image of God whereunto they were created, and might have lived alway in a conformity to the will of God; man was never able to apply himself to God his Fath er's business, nor yet so much as to know what appertained there. to-'the natural man,' saith St. Paul, perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God'-till Christ, the very true image of God the Father, did come down and took man's nature upon him which descent, as he declareth, was to fulfil for us the will of his Fath. er; that like as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Christ) many might be made righteous, what time as he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.' Which obedience, lest carnal men should challenge to suffice for them selves, howsoever their life be a continual rebellion against God and his holy will, such as there be a great number and hath been in all ages, St. Paul wipeth them clean away, saying, Christ hath become salvation,' not to all, but to all them that obey him.' Let no man, therefore, flatter and deceive himself. If we will challenge the name of Christ's disciples, if we will worthily possess the glorious name of Christians, we must learn the lesson of our Master, to be occupied in our heavenly Father's business ; which is to fly our own will, which is a wicked and a wanton will, and wholly to conform our. selves to his will, saying, as we are taught, thy will be done."" "Such," to use the language of Mr. William Gilpin, of whose account I have availed myself throughout the whole of this sketch; "Such was the life and character of this excellent man. A conduct so agreeable to the strictest rules of religion, gained him among his contemporaries the title of the Northern Apostle. And indeed the parallel between him and St. Paul was striking. His quitting corrupt doctrines, in the utmost reverence of which he had been educated; the persecutions he met with for the sake of his integrity; the danger he often ran of martyrdom; his contempt of the world; his un wearied application to the business of his calling; the extensive field in which his labors were employed; and the boldness and freedom with which he reproved the guilty, whatever their fortunes or their stations were ; might justly characterize him a truly apostolical person." $. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. JOHN GILLIES, D. d. MINISTER IN thor of the very excellent sermons which bear his name. Mrs. THE COLLEGE CHURCH OF G. like her father, was blessed GLASGOW. Mr. Editor, with a sweet and lively temper of mind; she also resembled her worthy parent in being a devout Christian. By that very amiable wife the doctor had eight children, of whom there are only two alive; one of these is Mr. er in the West Indies; the other is the Rev. Colin Gillies, one of the ministers of Paisley, who, as a Christian, husband, parent, and pastor, has followed the good example of his venerable father. Mrs. Gillies died soon after the birth of her eighth child, on the 6th of August, 1754, and about one month be fore the death of her much and justly esteemed father. Janua ry, 1756, Dr. G. married Joanna, the daughter of John Stew. art, Esq. of Blackhall, and twin sister to the late Sir Michael Stew. art. DR. GILLIES was the son of the Rev. Mr. John Gillies, min. ister of Garriston, in the pres. bytery of Brechin, and of Mrs. Mary Watson, who was descend. Gillies, a respectable planted from a respectable family in Galloway. When a student in divinity, he was remarkable for excellent dispositions, learning, taste, and acquaintance with the best ancient and modern writers. His fondness for literary amusements continued through the whole of life; but they were not allowed to encroach on his duties as a Christian, the head of a family, or a minister of the Gospel. He was successively tutor in the families of Brisbane of Brisbane, Macdowal of Castlesem. ple, and lord Glasgow. The doctor was ordained minister of the College Church the 29th of Ju. ly, 1742. For several years, bebesides delivering three discourses on the Sabbath, he gave lectures and serious exhortations three times in the week, to a crowded audience, in his large church, which contains nearly two thousand people; he also, for some time, published a weekly paper, addressed to the consciences of his hearers. According to the laudable custom of the church of Scotland, the doctor regularly visited and catechised his par. ish. He was remarkably atten tive to the sick and dying of his charge. Soon after his ordination, he married Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Mr. M' Laurin, who was one of the ministers of Glasgow, and au. Her only child was Rebecca, married some years before her father's death to the honor. able Colonel Leslie, second son to the earl of Leven. Mrs. G. who was in all respects a help meet for the doctor, lived till the 3d of December, 1792. Af ter her death the charge of his family affairs devolved on Miss Joanna Gow, the doctor's niece. Miss Gow, who possesses a well informed understanding and un. affected piety, did all in her pow er to make her uncle comforta. ble; and he was not insensible of her attention. When his strength was much decayed, the doctor's relatives and congrega. tion intreated him to take an assistant; but to this he would never give his consent, till about three years before his death. His whole soul was in his work. When great exertion was necessary to make his weak voice reach his large audience, he nev. er complained. If, after divine service, any person inquired whether he was not fatigued, his constant reply was, 'I am never the worse for preaching, if preaching is not the worse for me.'-For about the space of six months after I had the happiness of being his stated assistant, he regularly delivered a short lecture in the forenoon. He had begun a course of lectures on our Lord's farewell discourses, contained in the 14th, 15th, and 16th chapters of the Gospel by John,-when he was under the necessity of giving up his public work. His people were very dear to him; and, to a man, they were strongly attached to their aged pastor. The doctor had then been above fifty years minister of that congregation, and had baptized and married a great part of them. He had many seals of his ministry; great numbers of his stated hearers looked up to him in his old age as their spiritual father. After he was unable to preach, although in a weak state of body, he attended public worship, and sat in the pulpit as soon as he made his appearance, sympathy and love were visible in every countenance. There were frequently children brought to the church to be baptized; and it gave him much pleasure when he could perform that service. The moment that he rose from his seat to administer the ordinance of baptism, there was the most profound silence; and every eye was fixed on him. The sight was pleasant and painful. It was, indeed, highly gratifying to behold an aged minister, who had spent his time and his strength in the service of his Master, still willing!-but, alas! the flesh was now weak. It was painful to see him exerting himself to be heard; and hundreds at a distance looking with eager desire, but unable to hear. When he could no longer serve in public, he endeavored to be useful to the church of Christ in private. It was when laid aside from preaching that he prepared the Supplement to his Historical Collections, which was publish ed by Dr. Erskine of Edinburgh, after the death of Dr. G. To that Supplement Dr. E. has ad. ded an account of Dr. Gillies, and described the character of his deceased brother as a Christian, as a minister, and as an author, with his usual ability and faithfulness. To that account I am indebted for some things here mentioned.-Since I began to write this narrative, I have been informed, by an independent minister of great respectability, that the Historical Collections of Dr. G. were greatly blessed to him at an early period of life. He wishes this to be mentioned as a token of his gratitude to God, of his respect to the memory of Dr. Gillies, and as an incentive to others to read that book. Among the last times that the doctor attended divine service in public, the Lord's Supper was dispensed, and he exhorted one table. Af. ter he had finished a very impressive exhortation, he addressed the congregation in these words: My dear hearers, I have made this attempt with a view to find out whether my voice can be heard by those at a distance. If I shall find that you can hear, I shall now and then speak to you, for a short time, from the pulpit; but this will just be as my Master would have it; the King of Zion is a stately King, he is pleased to keep some servants in waiting; and if he shall see fit to keep me in that station, I desire to submit to his holy will.' He then, after having thus referred to his favorite author, Milton, quoted from him that beautiful line which, during his confinement, he often repeated,"They also serve, who only stand and wait." At that time the doctor was better in health than he had been for some considerable time before; but he was never able af. terwards to speak in public. The Lord was pleased to relieve his mind from the fears of death long before that event took place; his own latter end was frequently the subject of his conversation, and he spoke not only the language of a mind quite at ease, but the language of a soul desiring to depart, and to be with Christ. A few months before his death, he wrote a letter to an old friend, from which is taken the following extract :— I am waiting, I hope with patience, God's time, which is the best for my dismission hence. Christ's lying in the grave has sweetened the thoughts of it to all believers; and, through his merits, we can have hope in death.' He was seized, March 21st, 1796, with third stroke of the palsy, which deprived him of the power of his left side; but his mental powers were not affected. In the morning of that day he had written and sent off some letters to several of the ministers who used to assist him at the celebration of our Lord's Supper, requesting their assistance on the second Sabbath of April; and, after the fatal stroke, he spoke about the ministers, whom he had invited to be with him on that solemn occasion. The Rev. Colin Gillies and the honorable Mrs. Leslie were immediately in. formed by letters of their father's illness; and, without losing one moment, they both hastened to attend a parent whom they sincerely loved and highly esteemed. From the time of their arrival they waited constantly on their dying father. Both of them had been great comforts to him when in health, and they did what they could to comfort him in his last moments: but they themselves needed consolation; their minds were often overpow ered; and the dying saint observed it. At one time, when he saw them in tears, with a heavenly smile upon his countenance, which I shall never forget, he addressed them in these words of Scripture : We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits, and live!" He often spoke comfortably to them, to Miss Gow, and to other friends who came to see him. The Lord was wonderfully gra cious to his servant; he had lit. tle or no pain of body; and his soul enjoyed those consolations which he had so often been instrumental in communicating to others on their death beds. When he seemed to be very low, and nigh to death, Mrs. Leslie having mentioned that I was standing by his bed, he stretched out his hand, took hold of mine, and said, You have great cause to bless the Lord for having put you into the ministry; we serve a good Master; he carries us wonderfully through.' I said, "Sir, I hope you now experi. ence that the Lord Jesus Christ is a good Master." He replied with much earnestness, yes.' Yes, Tuesday, March 29th, 1796, in the 84th year of his age, and 54th of his ministry, about midday, Dr. Gillies fell asleep in Jesus. Mrs. Leslie, when she saw that her father was in the article of death, kneeled by his bed, and remained in that posture till the short and easy conflict was over. Her unceasing attention to her parents can never be sufficiently commended; the satisfaction which she must now derive from a retrospect of her conduct to both her parents is one, but not her only, reward for her tender attention.-Let all children who may read this narrative, and who have parents in life, go and do likewise.'. Great multitudes attended the doctor's funeral in tears; and his memory to this day is very dear to thousands in Glasgow. Dr. Gillies most firmly believed, and most faithfully preached, the doctrines which are generally called Calvinistic; but a Teacher, at whose feet he daily sat, had taught him to call no man Master he much rather chose to be called a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ than a follower of Calvin, He was a most devout Christian-he spent a very consid VOL. II. New Series. erable part of every day in devotional exercises. Searching the word of God, meditation and prayer, were not only duties which he daily performed, but duties in which he greatly delighted. As long as the state of his health would permit, he devoted the greatest part of every Monday to fasting and prayer. When the weather was good, the doctor regularly took a long walk once in the day; and when he walked by himself, he chose the most sequestered places. On those occasions, he was frequently found engaged in acts of devotion. Humility and meekness, zeal against error and vice, and a catholic spirit, were prominent features in the character of Dr. Gillies. He possessed and manifested an ardent, unceasing, and growing desire for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. News of a revival of religion, or of attempts to carry the gospel to heathen lands, were, to the doctor's heart, like cold waters to a thirsty soul. With regard to his style of preaching, he proposed the truths of the gospel with the greatest plainness, and pressed them with all possible earnestness. His disCourses were always enriched with many suitable portions of Scripture. The doctor used frequently to observe, when speaking in private, with regard to preaching, That ministers might be the unhappy instruments of ruining souls, in two different ways: The one is,' said he, 'by staroing them; and the other is, by giving them poison.' 'I love,' he was wont to say, 'to give God's children plenty of their own bread;' meaning thereby |