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and Davies, agents for the college of New Jersey; a design to which he heartily wished well, as he did to all that tended to promote Christianity. It gave him great pleasure to see with what readiness the Assembly granted a collection for carrying on that good design. of2esaibror & ye

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After helicames home, he had frequently in his hands a small volume of Mr. Shaw's pieces, one of which is entitled, fA Farewell to Life.' About the end of August he complained much of the rheum in his head, which, notwithstanding the good effects of medicines for at short time, still returned. Yet he preached on Sabbath,bAugust 25, and went abroad next day as usualloo There were at that time some foreigners in town, who were desirous to be introduced tachim, on account of the great esteem they had for his brother. As hist humane, sociable, and Christian temper, made him always behave in a very obliging manner too strangers, he waited upon them with great cheerfulness, and conversed with them in his usual entertaining and facetious way. He was again to have waited on them on Thursday, August 29, but found himself so much indisposed by the pain in his head, that he could not go abroad. About two o'clock afternoon, he became suddenly so ill, that his memory failed him, and he could not express himself with his usual readiness. After that, he had a continual inclination to sleep, attended with a slow fever. At the same time, a little swelling under one of his cheeks increased, till it became what the physicians call an Erysipelas. On Sabbath, Sept. 1, though he did not speak with his former distinctness, he conversed, in the intervals of his drowsiness, in the same

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heavenly strain he used to do on that day; repeating many comfortable passages of Scripture, and improv ing every thing that came in his way, as the means of devotion and a spiritual frame; taking occasion, from the cordials he was using, to speak of the fruit of the tree of life," and of the pure water of life." Afterwards his trouble, increased, and carried him off in the sixty-first year of his age, on Sabbath, Sept. 8, near twelve at night; the end of a Sabbath on earth being the beginning of an eternal Sabbath in heaven. w zingstand) to go

He was a man in whom were united, incalvery remarkable degree, the most valuable gifts and the most lovely graces a lively and striking instance of the truth, and power, and amiableness of Christie anity; employed from day to day in some good des sign, without the smallest appearance of vanity for ambition, or any interested view.ro: F end to

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There was a perpetual cheerfulness in his temper, attended with that decency of behaviour, and that useful and pertinent discourse, that, in conversing with him, one enjoyed the pleasures of other most lively company, along with the advantages of the most serious. His conversation was always pleasant, but never trifling. He was ingenious in making the best improvement of every occurrence. He equally: disliked debates and a sullen reserve of temper, and c diverted every thing of this kind, by introducing what tended to cheer and edify." do veres the

He was eminently "given to hospitality," and was always "ready to distribute to the necessitous, ta the utmost of his power, if not beyond it, and beas

His kind and affectionate heart, to those who were

in any trouble, whether of body or mind, was such as cannot well be expressed, and yet, even when those who were dearest to him were undér alarming diseases, he retained a tranquillity and cheerfulness of temper, always hoping for the most comfortable event; and when deeply afflicted by the disappointment of these hopes, he on every occasion overcame the tenderest grief by the most pious resignation.

As a minister of the gospel he was very exemplary. The great subjects of his sermons were the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, which were the life of his own soul. In dealing with the consciences of men, he thought the proper method was (according to the Scripture pattern, particularly in the Epistle to the Romans) to convince them first of their having broken the Divine law, and their being condemned by it, and then to lead them to the blood of Christ. He thought the alienation of the human soul from God in its unconverted state, is a sufficient proof of its depravity and misery. He inculcated the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. His opinion concerning the nature of faith in Christ, was, that it is the receiving of a free gift, and lies much in a supreme and rooted esteem of Christ, and all his benefits, with proportionable desires after them. His clear and scriptural views of the imputation of the Redeemer's righteousness, and of the agreeableness of this doctrine to reason, may be seen in his essay on" Prejudices against the Gospel."

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He was no bigot. He did not love party names, nor laid undue stress upon lesser matters. grand truths just now mentioned, of justification by the blood and righteousness of Christ, and sanctifi

cation by the Holy Spirit, were the main objects of his attention. When he treated on other points, he made them subservient to these.

The style and method of his sermons, which was abundantly clear in his younger days, became afterwards more obscure, so that it was difficult to follow him attentively through a whole discourse; but every sentence was a short sermon, and the whole was in the true spirit and strain of the gospel.

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In reproving sin he was very sharp and severe, in the case of insensibility or obstinacy, but far from condemning any person without evidence. When

he heard bad reports, he was a strict but impartial examiner, and spared no labour to find out the truth. And his inquiries this way were attended with great success, and frequently made the means of vindicating injured innocence and exposing concealed wickedness. With the same steadiness and application he pursued every good design; whether he was engaged in helping those who needed his assistance, or in promoting any public interest, he stuck close to it till he carried it through, if any success was to be expected.

He was much beloved by his brethren in the ministry in general, especially by his colleagues in Glasgow. And what heightened the value of all his other talents and graces, and endeared him to every one, was that humility and self-diffidence that so eminently distinguished him, and appeared in all his behaviour.

"What he was in his family," says the late Dr. Gillies of Glasgow, "I am at a loss to express. He was so exceedingly and deservedly dear to all his relations, that the description must fall far short of

the reality. Indeed, the remembrance is too affecting. Our only comfort is, that his Saviour and ours lives for ever, and that in his blessed presence we hope to enjoy a far happier society together, than we even did in this life.

"His stature was a little above the middle size. His body pretty strong and nimble-a fair complexion-an honest, open countenance, full of cheerfulness, good nature, modesty, and gravity. He was liable to be absent and lost in thought-spoke very readily and agreeably sometimes continued speaking longer than he designed, (though he was not tedious,) his attention being carried away by the subject. The same amiable simplicity ran through all his behaviour animated with no worldly views, but with an unshaken and well-grounded belief of Christianity, and a continual joyful hope of heaven.

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“ In 1721, Mr. Maclaurin married Lilias, daughter of Mr. John Rae of Little Govan, by whom he had nine children, of which four died in their infancy. His son John, a very promising young man, died in 1742, in the 17th year of his age. His eldest daughter (spouse to the Rev. Dr. Gillies) died soon after the birth of her eighth child, Aug. 6, 1754, about a month before her father, whom she very much resembled in a peculiar sweetness and vivacity, and in the most serious piety. Mrs. Maclaurin (a woman of great plainness and integrity, and very dutiful and affectionate to her relations) dying in 1747, Mr. Maclaurin, in 1749, married Margaret, daughter of Mr. Patrick Bell of Cowcaddins, who survived him." nach Eur ! or

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