either to afflict or gladden the hearts of the Godly; the death of faithful ministers, the feuds of Christian societies, the scandalous conduct of professors, and the propagation of error, on the one hand; and the reformation of the abandoned, the apparent success of a gospel-ministry, and attempts to advance the interests of religion, on the other. They are so particular, indeed, that prudence requires their suppression.

It was under the influence of this spirit of holy zeal, that in the year 1777, he composed and prepared for the press, a considerable treatise which has been found among his manuscripts, in reply to the Rev. Dr. Dalgliesh of Peebles. That gentleman had rashly stated some ideas respecting the Sonship of Christ, and attempted to support them by means of a crude theory of animalcular generation which excited very general alarm among the Godly in this country. His book has since sunk into deserved oblivion; but while it yet lived, it was attacked, and with success, by a host. of adversaries. How it happened that Mr. Meikle never published his answer, though it was prepared for the press, is unknown.. His modesty in wishing to conceal his name, and his diffidence lest he should err in writing on so mysterious a subject, it is proba-ble, occasioned him to procrastinate, till others had got the start of him, and he deemed his answer unnecessary. "I intend," says he, August 19, 1777, "great secrecy, and I am full of trembling lest I should err against the truth which I would defend. O to be guided of God, and to give God the glory!"

After the death of his sister, Mr. Meikle found, in a greater degree than formerly, the necessity of ening into the marriage-state. He had made several ts before that event, which it would be improper

, as well as some after it, which misgave;,

and it was not till the 18th day of August, 1779, that he was blessed with a partner of his cares, and a helper of his faith and joy. "It had always been," he says, "Secret Survey," for that date, "a ruling prineiple with me, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers." How deeply his mind was impressed with the necessity of religion in one's partner for life, is strikingly shown by a small tract written by him on the eve of his marriage, but from which, the length to which this narrative has run out will not permit an extract to be made. He sought a religious wife, and God at length heard his prayers. He was married to Agnes Smith, the daughter of a respectable farmer in his neighborhood, and married, there is every reason to think, "in the Lord."

In the prospect of entering into this new relation,his intended wife and he, five days before, entered into an agreement of a very different tenor from those which commonly occupy the sole attention of persons on the: eve of marriage; an agreement which refers not to the present world, but to the future. It is in preservation, and the reader would regret its omission. It runs thus:

"As in all our ways we ought to acknowledge God, that he may direct our steps; so, in prospect of our proposed connection, which is of great moment, it is the duty of each of us to implore the divine direction, and beg the heavenly blessing; and, in entering into it, to keep the following things in view :

1. "As we should neither eat nor drink for ourselves, soin our marriage we should eye his glory, and study to live together as heirs of the grace of life.

2. "As there is some difference in our views of some things, instead of suffering this to breed discord and contention between us, let it beget in us a proper

concern for the divisions of Reuben, and continual sup plication for the peace and prosperity of Zion, that as there is one Lord, so his name may be one in all the earth.

3. "Let us expect troubles and trials while in the world, bear them with patience, and seek to get good out of them.

4. "Let us take it for granted that each of us will. find some failing to bear with in the other, and so resolve before hand to behave wisely towards each other; never to be both angry at once, to cover one another's faults, and to forgive one another.

5. "Let us study to esteem, respect, and comfort one another, and so to live in love.

6. "Let it be our joint and earnest request, that the' grace of God may be in our hearts, his peace rule there, and his blessing rest on our house.

7. "If blessed with children, let us remember that they are but loans, and may be soon recalled; and when one corrects, the other is not to defend them. Let us bring them up for God, and much rather wish to sce them gracious than great.

8. "Let us remember that it is only the heavenly favor that can make us happy, with little or with much; for should he be provoked to send an evil spirit between us, we would be miserable, whatever we might possess.

9. "Let us depend on the providence of God with greater quiet and confidence than on gathered sums.

10. "Hereby we also engage, that the worship of God is to be kept up daily in our family, even though the husband should be called from home all night.

11. "Moreover, we are never to seek heaven on earth, er expect to find felicity below; and so we must wei-..

come that lot, prosperous or afflicted, which Heaven sees it fit to send.

12. "Let us remember that one of us may be snatched away by death before the other, and leave the survivor drowned in sorrow; but let us study so to walk, that the survivor need not sorrow as they that have no hope.

13. "Let us remember that this is not our rest, be cause it is polluted, and let us rejoice that there remaineth a rest for the people of God.

14. "In all things let us endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, and to have our conver sation in heaven, from whence we expect the Saviour

to come.

"Aug. 13, 1779. (Signed)

"JAMES MEIKLE, "AGNES SMITH."

The second article of this engagement makes it necessary to mention, that Mrs. Meikle was connected with that branch of the Secession which is denominated Antiburgher, while Mr. Meikle himself was in communion with the other, styled Burgher. Though they belonged to different communions, neither appears to have been animated by the intolerant spirit of party. They mutually granted the liberty of conscience which they demanded; and enjoyed that pleasure and delightful harmony in private Christian fellowship, which the members of both societies, if possessed of a little more of their spirit, might enjoy in church fellowship, notwithstanding the minute and unimportant points in which they differ. In proof of this, it is not unworthy of notice, that Biggar, where Mr. Meikle attended divine worship, lies some miles beyond Ellfrighill, where the Congregation of which Mrs. Meikle was a member assembled; and that he usually conducted his wife

in the morning to Ellfrighill, and returned by the same road in the evening to bring her home. It appears also from a paper which has been found in his possession, that he interested himself deeply in procuring assistance for the worthy man under whose ministry she sat, whose circumstances, through the poverty of his congregation, were very much straitened. To these proofs that they not only lived in harmony, but as heirs together of the grace of life, others might be added. It is enough to mention further that it was their custom, besides the prayers of the family, and secret prayer, to join together in prayer by turns after they went to bed, before they composed themselves to sleep; and that occasionally, when they could find convenience, they devoted a day, or a part of a day, to solemn humiliation and prayer.

A paper dated February 3, 1780, and entitled "For a family fast," has been found in Mr. Meikle's hand writing, and subscribed both by him and his wife, which will give some idea of the manner in which these days of private devotion were observed. It is arranged under four heads; confessions, grateful acknowledgemenis, petitions and resolutions. They confess before God, that they have not in all things set God before them; that they have found too much pleasure in perishing things; that they have sometimes had unbelieving fears and distrust of divine providence; that they have felt an inclination at times to prescribe to God with respect to what he should give or withhold; that they do not improve time and the quiet which they enjoy as they ought; that they are not so deeply affected with the sins of others, nor with the afflictions. and divisions of Zion as they should; and that they