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work with great diligence. He became much admired for his public performances; and, as his heart was much fet upon the acquifition of knowledge, he was very industrious in reading. He was, indeed, the principal life of a fociety of minifters and candidates in thofe parts, who, from time to time met, to spend a day in ufeful converfation, and in communicating their ftudies; an excellent defign, and which was carried on for feveral years, not without confiderable fuccefs.

He was in great esteem with the gentlemen of the first rank in the neighbourhood. The vivacity of his fpirit, true wit, fo corrected, as to be perfectly confiftent with the gravity of his character; an exact purity of manners and good-breeding, recommended him to the best company; and his abilities foon became the fubject of general obfervation to his brethren in the miniftry. It may be truly faid, that in the general fynod, which is a very large affo ciation, there was no one more, or as much taken notice of. The greatest respect was paid him from his first appearances, as a perfon not only of very uncommon genius,

but of admirable wisdom and difcretion, of perfect candor and great modefty. He foon became one of those, upon whom the fynod moft depended in the management of public affairs, and had a very large share in it. As a speaker, he was confidered as their greatest ornament: And it is very well known, that he maintained his character and esteem in these refpects, through the whole of that tedious courfe of debates, which afterwards fell in upon the point of christian liberty, even with those, who were the fierceft antagonists to the cause he efpoufed.

A

WHEN he had been nine years in Antrim, he received a call from the diffenting con→→ gregation in Derry, who with great earneftnefs follicited his removal thither. He was, indeed, fo generally admired, that it was natural, the moft confiderable congrega tions fhould turn their eyes on him, in cafe of a vacancy: But this attempt was without fuccefs He thought himfelf very happy in his fituation at Antrim, and that the great ends of his miniftry might be ferved as effectually there as any where elfe. He loved his people, and had a pleafing pro

spect

fpect of fuccefs among them. The scen ral fynod, when this matter was do

fore them, determined his continuance op Antrim.

SOON after this, in the year 1712, his wife, by whom he had a fon and three daughters, died, which made a very deep and lafting impreffion upon his mind: He loved her with the greatest tenderness; and, though he bore up under his grief with all poffible decency, yet there were plain àppearances that it was exceedingly intense. For a confiderable time afterwards he chofe retirement from the world, as much as it was confiftent with the business of his ftation. But whatever he fuffered upon this occafion, it was abundantly compensated, by his apparent growth in knowledge and all virtuous improvements, the best proof, that he knew how to receive affliction, and make the proper ufe of it.

HE has left behind him a diary of his life, which begins February, 1712-13; it makes fix large volumes in quarto, very small writing, and very clofe: It is indeed an amazing work; the temper of his mind all

along

along represented with much exactnefs; the various events he met with, his reflections upon them, and his improvements of them: The whole bearing fuch characters of at reverence, and awe of the divine prefence upon his mind, of fimplicity and fincerity of fpirit, and the most careful difcipline of the heart, that, how great foever his reputation in the world was, it fhews its real worth rather exceeded it.

THIS diary begins with a review of his paft life, even from childhood, and a very careful examination of the prefent moral ftate of his mind; which takes up many pages, and is too long to be here inferted. But it discovers a fpirit thoroughly fenfible. of the importance of religion, fully convinced of the truth and divine authority of the religion of Chrift, and in calling himself to an account, not only impartial but fevere. He fearches narrowly into his own defects, and writes like one that wrote only for himself, laying open the inmost of his heart. Then he confiders the true defign of christianity by the knowledge of which we are helped to a right understanding of the terms of our acceptance with God. He

obferves

observes that the very effence of faith by which christians are justified, confists in a full consent of foul to the gofpel, as containing the will of God for our falvation; and in pursuance of that, a chearful and unreferved fubmiffion to the laws of it; the tendency of all which is to purify the heart and life, to deliver men from the spirit of this world, that is, from pride, covetousnefs and all corrupt defire; to prepare them for the love of God, refignation to him, confidence and delight in him; and for the performance of all good offices to others with undiffembled charity. He obferves that the gospel is admirably adapted to anfwer these ends, not only by the excellency of its laws, but by the love and mercy of God to mankind, and the love of our Saviour, declared in it; by the promises of all neceffary divine aid, and of a happy immortality. Then he reprefents his own sentiments and temper with refpect to all ́ these things, and towards the conclufion goes on thus ; "I have, after calling upon "God, reviewed all that I have written upon this inquiry; I dare fay, in his "fight, that my foul approves the defign of the gofpel, and heartily concurs with