SELECT LIST.

THE

CHRISTIAN HERALD.

April 17, 1815.

MR.

MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN ROBERTSON.

R. JOHN ROBERTSON, the subject of this brief Me moir, was born near Drummond-Castle, in the Parish of Muthil, Perthshire, June 4, 1781. In his early life, he enjoyed that most invaluable of blessings, a religious education. His parents, though not in affluent circumstances, were in possession of the true riches," and they made it their study to instil into the minds of their children, those truths which are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. It was, however, a subject of the deepest regret to his friends, that he did not enjoy, in early life, the privilege of a classical education. His 'natural abilities were such, as, had they been aided and expanded by the advantages which such a course of instruction affords, would have eminently qualified him for filling a highly respectable station in public life.

66

Comparatively short, but not useless, has been his course:” the hand of death has removed him from this vale of tears, "to shine as a star in the firmament for ever and ever." While reflecting upon the bright example he has left, memory drops a tear to his departed worth, and the pen of friendship would thus sketch a hasty outline of his character as a man and a Christian.

The amiable qualities and dispositions he displayed when in early life, were indicative of a character of no common excellence. While very young, he seems to have been under serious impressions, and to have given evidence of a work of grace upon his heart. He was distinguished from the rest of his companions, by a love of solitude and retirement. Whilst they were busily engaged in their juvenile sports, he would

VOL. II. No. 4.

silently quit the scene of amusement, and, where no liuman eye was upon him, pour out the feelings of his heart, and, in communion with God, experience a joy which the world knoweth not of, and with which a stranger cannot intermeddle.

At one time, he collected his young play-fellows together, and wislied them to unite with him in the exercise of social prayer; but the proposal was received by his thoughtless companions with scorn and derision: by perseverance, however, and repeated trials, he at last prevailed upon them to comply with his request, and they met together regularly, upon the mornings and evenings of the Lord's day. During the summer months, their little prayer-meeting was held in the open air; but the approaching winter induced them to seek a covering. His natural modesty and diffidence would not allow him: to make known the work in which he was engaged to his parents, who would cheerfully have given him every encouragement in their power. He had derived, however, too much pleasure from these exercises, easily to relinquish his purpose; with the assistance, therefore, of some of his young friends, in the midst of a large wood, immediately adjoining his father's house, he erected a small hut. From this humble roof, the song of praise was often heard, and the voice of prayer and supplication ascended to that God," who, seeth in secret," and whom he had thus early chosen as the guide of his youth.

His leisure hours were chiefly devoted to reading and meditation. The books most congenial to his feelings, were those of a religious nature: though his attention was by no means confined to such. In his earlier years, the Pilgrim's Progress was his favourite work; his memory was uncommonly retentive, so much so, that he had got the greater part of that inimitable production by heart. As he advanced in years, he became much attached to the writings of Newton and Hervey in poetry of every description he delighted ;-Thomson, Milton, and Young, were frequently the companions of his vacant hours. But, next to the sacred volume, the works of the amiable Christian poet, Cowper, attracted his attention: the evangelical sentiments, and rich variety of thought, which pervade his poems, were an inexhaustible source of pleasure to him. The greater part of his hymns he had also committed to memory, and frequently repeated them with animation and delight. He occasionally composed a few stanzas, for his own amusement, and to keep alive the memory of particular events and circumstances; though, here, the limited advantages he enjoyed while young, were the occasion of inaccuracies, which a more liberal education would have corrected. The following lines upon a Violet, written shortly before his death, are descriptive of the amiable modesty and diffidence which mark

4

ed him through life, as well as characteristic of his own feelings and devotional sentiments:

About the year 1800, he removed from his native place, on account of his business, to Glasgow. Even here, his charac ter was too remarkable to remain long unobserved: his amiable and gentle manners, and unaffected piety, soon endeared him to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. His knowledge of the Scriptures was at this time, however, by no means so extensive as at a subsequent period: during the last seven or eight years of his life, his attention was much more frequently turned to a consideration of their contents, and his increase in spiritual knowledge was proportionally greater.

In the year 1807, at the earnest solicitations of several of his friends, he was prevailed upon to commence teaching a Sabbath-evening School. His natural diffidence made him hesitate long before he made the attempt; but his zeal for the best interests of his fellow creatures, at last induced him to comply with their request, and to devote his time, upon the evenings of the Lord's day, to the instruction of the young in the fear of the Lord. His unremitting assiduity in discharging the duties devolving upon him in this capacity, and his ardent zeal for the glory of God, very soon rendered him conspicuous here also. By his fellow-labourers in this delightful employment, he was looked up to with sentiments of the highest respect and esteem. His intimate acquaintance with human character, and the knowledge he possessed of the deep depravity and sinfulness of the human heart, eminently qualified him for this important work. In his character as a

teacher, he united the affection of a parent to all the knowledge of the most experienced Christian. In his manner of communicating instruction, there was an uncommon degree of solemnity and devotional feeling: the truths which he taught had made a very deep impression upon his own mind, and he was enabled, with a perspicuity and simplicity which very few have attained, to explain to the young the great doctrines of salvation. In his labours of love, he seemed to possess much of that spirit of humility and devotional zeal which animated the indefatigable Brainerd. The honour of his Divine Master was the object of his constant and unceasing prayers; and his personal efforts were never wanting to promote his cause, whenever he had it in his power. He laboured, it is true, for a considerable time among the young, declaring the way of salvation through Christ Jesus, apparently without success; and had not his faith in the word and promises of his God, been firm and unshaken, he would have given up his employment in despair. But the love of Christ, who gave himself a ransom for the guilty, constrained him to persevere amidst all the discouragements he met with. He knew that the grace of God could change the hardest heart, and although he appeared to have spent his strength for nought and in vain, yet God was making use of his instructions to effect a divine change upon the hearts of many. Depending upon the strength of Jehovah, he went forward in his work; his daily, we might almost say, his hourly prayer, was, "that God would perfect his strength in his weakness;" and his prayer was heard and accepted. One after another arose to bear witness to the efficacy of divine grace, and to become living monuments to the praise and glory of God.

(To be continued.)

ON THE DIVINE APPEARANCES DURING THE OLD TESTAMENT

DISPENSATION.

(Concluded from page 87.)

We now proceed to make some general observations suggested by the several accounts we have been considering.

1st, It will be admitted, that if God thinks proper to appear to men at all, he must assume some visible form. This may vary according to circumstances, so as best to answer his great and benevolent designs. When he appeared to a nation, he enrobed himself in clouds and thick darkness. "Then the earth shook and trembled, the foundation also of the hills moved, and were shaken. There went up a smoke out of his