couragement of Missions from the Christians to the Heathen, preached in Holywood church, Nov. 16th 1797.

These were the only discourses published by himself. A volume is now offered to the public. Its contents are not selected by the editor according to his own judgment, from the numerous manuscripts of which he is in possession. The testamentary deed, by which they were conveyed to him, contains a clause, that none were to be published excepting such as were marked for that purpose. This clause was wisely framed to prevent that improper use which is too frequently made of the papers of literary men, who have descended to the grave. Incorrect judgment, or ill-directed affection, has served to introduce to the public compositions on which their authors would not have rested their reputation; and in not a few instances, books have been made up for sale, the merits or blemishes of which have been those of the editors. In the present posthumous publication no imposition is attempted. A few verbal alterations have been made,

but neither the sentiment, arrangement, nor peculiar style of the author have been changed. The manuscripts were found in that state in which he had intended to deliver them to his printer, if it had pleased God to prolong his health and life a month beyond the time at which he entered into rest. The discourses will be acceptable to those who read for the purpose of being made wiser and better. The peculiar doctrines of the Gospel are explicitly set forth, and, with much acute and ingenious reasoning, are shewn to be philosophically true. The volume contains many important and interesting practical exhortations. It opens just and pleasing views of the plans of providence respecting the Mediator's kingdom on earth;

and is calculated to rouse the exertions of the subjects of that kingdom to forward the execution of these benevolent and gracious plans. In some of the discourses will be found sound counsel and warning suited to the present circumstances of this country, and which, under God, may prepare may prepare its in

habitants for being saved, through his mercy,

from the ruin which their manifold sins and provocations have most justly deserved. The style of the sermons is perspicuous, forcible, and plain. A fastidious critic may wish it had been more richly loaded with those rhetorical embellishments which so generally belong to modern publications. But it was not for persons of this description that the author wrote. Less ambitious to please than to profit, he preferred plainness of speech to the enticing words of man's wisdom. What he said himself on this subject may here be appositely quoted. If a great variety of ་ necessary duties had afforded me more time, *the language might have been better polish

ed. But I hope it is such as shall convey the sentiments to the reader without disgusting him; and, if that shall be the case, • I trust my time hath been as well employed in many necessary duties, as it would have been in merely rounding a period *.'

* Int. to Com. p. 18.

Besides the works mentioned in the line of his professional studies, and many others not inferior in merit, the greater part of which the prohibition in his will must withhold from public view, Dr Johnstone foun leisure to communicate his sentiments to men, on some subjects connected with their temporal interests. He was among the first to second Sir John Sinclair's patriotic views of drawing the Statistical Account of Scotland; and, from the materials furnishby him, the account of Holywood was prepared, which, with those of three other parishes, were circulated as specimens of the intended publication. In the year 1794, he drew up for the Board of Agriculture, A general view of the Agriculture of the county of Dumfries, with observations on the means of its improvement.' This pacontains much useful matter, and was honoured with the marked approbation of the Board. Additions were afterwards made with a view to republication in an octavo volume.

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On many other subjects he was equally qualified to write. In particular, it has been

often regretted by his friends, that he did not find leisure to delineate the constitution of the church of Scotland, and to furnish institutes of its law. These, the members of the ecclesiastical courts, and the lawyers who have occasion to practise in them, daily experience to be desiderata, and no man would have been better able to supply them. But the life of a man is too short for the execution of vast designs; and his, alas! was not to attain the period assigned to many.

In general he had been blessed with good health. Occasionally he had been visited with inflammatory complaints, occasioned chiefly by his exertions in public duty. For about two years before his death, he was more exhausted than formerly by these exertions, yet his heart was so much engaged, that, after he had begun to speak, he forgot his increas ing feebleness, nor was it perceptible by his hearers that he stood so much in need of relaxation and ease. About the middle of

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