Dr. Buchanan's life, concerning the correction of the proof sheets, of the Syriac Testament Whether said my father, "this work ever comes to any thing or not, it repays me for my labour, by the delight I receive from having the whole body of scripture thus, kept constantly revolving before me."The veriest drudgery, as many would esteem it, about the sacred volume, is not, it appears, barren of enjoyment and eyen present reward. sin loved boog

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At the beginning of the ensuing year he speaks of dejection, which he terms "unaccountable," at times oppressing him. To others, however, who consider his age, his circumstances, as being always confined to one spot, his constant indisposition, his extreme jone deafness, his frame worn down by incessant labours, it will rather appear, wonderful that he should have been able to summon up resolution to write, and speak, and act as he did, than "unaccountable" that his spirits should sometimes have failed him. Brighter gleams, however, from time to time, shone upon his mind, when he looked beyond the present scene. his servant inquiring of him, at this period, how he did, he replied, "Very poorly; I shall soon be at home" and he added, "Oh how my heart leaps and exults within me, at the thought of so very soon joining the glorious company before the throne of God!" 21. He has bFebruary 15, 1821, he wrote his last letter to his old friend Dr. Ryland, of Bristol, as follows bas My dear sir My infirmities and diseases grow upon me, and leave me little time or heart for many things which I should otherwise rejoice to do; espet cially, as to correspondence. You must then excuse

apparent neglect."The next paragraph relates to Dr. Carey, and has been inserted in an early part of this works of 290109 1979 went "let zur Line. I dyour account of your sister's death, and of her conversation with poor old Dr.

is in itself very

He was a very

many years ago':

interesting, and to me especially. kind and generous friend to me, but, alas! my feeble endeavours and prayers for his good have hitherto been in vain. May God bless your beloved dying sister's faithful attempt..!!JA

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I wish we could do something to aid your mis sion: but I can only pray. I have no ability of moving from my obscure village, and my means of other kinds are less then they were some time past.f Indeed I do not expect to continue long. O pray for me, that my faith, hope, love, patience, and fortitude may be increased; and that I may finish my course with joy: for I am apt to be impatient, unbe Heving, and cowardly. set 206 mitoile asiriye auf

prejoice that you are able to go from place to place, in your services of love: may the Lord prosper you in all! Could you call at little Aston, you would meet with a hearty welcome, and be sure to find us at home..ke dod i 4 Lm ":smoil

Mrs. S. joins me in hearty Christian remembrance to you, Mrs. R., and all yours. May God bless you and all your's, and every work and labour of love in which you engage! I remain, my dear old friend and fellow labourer, your's faithfully, a bust blo worg #oabab in Eastman THOS. SCOTT." vuHis last letter to me was dated a few days after, February 23. In reply to his complaints of dejection, I had reminded him of the remarkable sentence which

he had uttered at the meeting of our family party two years and a half before, and had quoted it at length, as it has been given above. His answer is very striking.

"Dear John-My deliberate judgment on the whole is the same as I expressed in conference with you and others: Goodness and mercy have followed mé, &c. Perhaps when warmed with the subject, I spake more strongly of my own personal confidence, than my habitual feelings warrant: but my dejected feelings are often perfectly unaccountable, and the least matter makes me subject to them. But I trust all will end well. Yet I apprehend, that to die of lingering disease and infirmity, shut out from ordinary resources of refreshing intercourse and employment, requires at least as much patience, and as strong supports, as the sufferings of a martyr in other circumstances: and the want of duly expecting this is one reason, I suppose, why many excellent worn-out old men have been dejected. It came upon them unexpectedly, and disconcerted them.

"I have not seen Dr. Milner's Sermons; but will procure them.

"I hope that, notwithstanding all interruptions and difficulties, and your own fears and feelings, it is appointed for you to, &c. &c. If you have not that snare, which, being aware of it, you will more watch and pray against, some other will come in its stead. Such must be the case, while, with sin dwelling in us, we live in such a world as this. Had I had those views of arduousness, importance, and awful responsibility, when I engaged in my Commentary, which I have at present, I should have shrunk from the ser

vice with trepidation. I have much to be humbled for, and have had many painful rebukes, and still have; yet probably it was better that I engaged than if I had not. We do nothing from perfectly pure motives: yet we must occupy with our modicum of talent as we can. . . .

"I can only add my love, and most endearing remembrances to dear Frances, (whom I especially think of in my prayers,) and Jane, and Fanny, Anne, Mary, John, &c. &c. May God bless you and all of them, and make all of them blessings to others long after I am gone. Let the children of thy servants continue, and their seed be established before thee! (Psalm cii, 28.)

I am, dear John, your affectionate father, THOS. SCOTT. "I have revised copy to the end of Thessalonians." Thus his correspondence with me closed: a more wise, more pious and holy, or more affectionate conclusion of it I could not have desired. My next letter from Aston brought the tidings of his fatal illness.

Four days after the preceding date, he wrote to the husband of his deceased sister, Mrs. Burgess. The death referred to in this letter is that of the niece to whom some letters, already inserted, were addressed.

66

February 27, 1821. I am grown very infirm and diseased, and have little time or heart for letterwriting; yet the afflictive tidings of your daughter's almost sudden death, joined to my nephew W.'s letter, induced me to undertake a few lines to you. I do greatly sympathize with you under the heavy afflic

tion yet there were many circumstances respecting it which may prove consolatory and supporting.....

"My heart's desire and prayer for you is, that you may be saved and in one way or other you or your's are seldom forgotten in my prayers any day, and often are repeatedly remembered.... May God bless you, and all your's; and gather in those that are not gathered; and be your comforter in sorrow, your supporter in old age, your hope in death, and your portion for ever! Pray for me and mine. I am, dear brother, your's affectionately,

THOS. SCOTT."

On the same day, he wrote his last letter to his friend in Northumberland, which I shall insert almost entire.

“Dear Mrs. R—, A letter from you, though to spread your troubles before me, seems a refreshment to me, as it reminds me of former times; and because I consider all who are converted by your means, or in answer to your prayers, as in some measure the fruit of

.my former labours. But I am now old (in my seventy-fifth year,) and infirm, and diseased in various ways, and incapable of much exertion: yet I still preach once every Lord's day, and expound in my house in the evening. I am also yet employed with my pen, almost as much as formerly, in preparing and superintending a new stereotype edition of my Family Bible; but with painfulness and weariness, which leave me little time or spirits for correspondence. I bless God, however, that, though excluded by deafness from much conversation, my eyesight is not materially impaired; and I can use my pen as nimbly as ever.