*

nent peril of suffering, unless we provide school accommodation co-extensive with our church, and if possible, with the nation's necessities. 4thly, We are pledged as a Free Church, to establish an educational system, coextensive with our own progress. Lastly, After the example of our brethren in England, contending for christian liberty, and the principles of our common protestantism, we are called to anticipate the government by pre-occupying the land. * * Have we nothing to fear from government adopting a politic course, and, through the sides of education, attempting a deadly thrust at the Free Church."-It may be for the Secession to consider whether these measures of our brethren ought not, in the best sense of the words, to provoke us to jealousy. We have sometimes had our apprehensions, that through a commendable, but perhaps excessive, fear of poisoning education with sectarianism, our church may have lost sight, not only of her own interest, but of something unspeakably higher.

It appears that eighty-three new churches have been built, or are in progress, without aid from the general fund. The following table exhibits the very liberal contributions which have been made by the Free Church for education, missions, &c., together with the number of congregations contributing :

Collections and Donations.

£4220 4 2 5640 17 9

No. of
Congregations.

513

550

297

1991

35

4 21 7 6

489 16 11

£19,066 17 10

Dissenting Statistics.-The following statements are from authentic sources From October 1842, to October 1843, in England and Wales, twenty-four new Independent chapels have been erected, and twelve rebuilt, enlarged, or opened after repairs; and thirty-seven Baptist chapels have been either built or opened, and nine enlarged.

Number of chapels in England,

Independents.

Baptists.

Wales,

Total number throughout the world, exclusive of ministers, 1,479,187 Total number of ministers throughout the world, exclusive of Canada,

5,872

MURRAY AND GIBB, PRINTERS, GEORGE STREET, EDINBURGH.

THE

UNITED SECESSION MAGAZINE,

FOR APRIL, 1844.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN MITCHELL, D.D.*

DR MITCHELL was born at Marshland, near Beith, on the 15th October 1768. He was the second son of the Rev. Andrew Mitchell, "a devout man and a just," who for forty-seven years was minister of the congregation in Beith connected with the General Associate Synodand of Mrs Janet Alice, the daughter of Mr Ellis of Blairengone in Perthshire, a woman of good understanding and of an excellent spirit. At the public school of Beith, Dr Mitchell received his elementary education. By his own assiduous application in private, stimulated and directed by his excellent parents, he made rapid progress in the acquisition of the ordinary and literary branches taught in that seminary. At the age of fourteen he entered the University of Glasgow. While there, he prosecuted his studies with zeal and success, passing through the different classes, and receiving testimonials of proficiency from the Professors, and the awards of distinction and merit conferred by the votes of his fellow-students. About this period of his life, he twice, in different parts of the country, filled the office of private tutor; and he afterwards attributed considerable influence in the progress of his studies, and the formation of his character, to the engagements which that office involves, and the means of improvement and opportunities of observing character which it supplies. While in the last of these situations, he entered the Theological Hall of the General Associate Synod, at that time under the superintendence of the Rev. Archibald Bruce, Whitburn. Having access to few aids in the preparation of his exercises and discourses, he formed those habits of independent thinking and composing which distinguished him through life.

After attending the Hall during the ordinary period, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Perth to preach the everlasting gospel. Immediately he entered on the important work to which he had devoted his life, and having preached in various congregations in different parts of

The following Memoir is extracted from a sermon preached on occasion of Dr Mitchell's death, by the Rev. John Robson, A.M. of Glasgow, with those verbal alterations which were necessary to give it the usual form of such communications in our Journal. We understand that valuable materials exist for a more extended Memoir of Dr Mitchell, and we trust that a volume containing such Memoir, and some of his Discourses, will yet be given to the public.

NO. IV. VOL. 1.

Scotland, and for four months continuously to one in Dublin, he came into the Presbytery of Glasgow, and was appointed to preach to the congregation then recently formed in Anderston. For a considerable time, with few interruptions, he ministered to this people, and ultimately received from them a call to be their pastor. Another call was also addressed to him by the congregation of Whithorn. Both calls were all but unanimous. The competition for his permanent services between these two Christian societies came before the Synod for decision. He expressed no preference in the matter; the Supreme Court not deeming it right at that period to be swayed by the inclinations of the candidate. Its decision was given in favour of Anderston, but by the smallest possible majority,-that of one vote. The God of the

church, we cannot doubt, guided to that decision, fraught as it has been with blessed results to the congregation with which he thus became connected, to the Church at large, and to the great community among whom his lot was cast. In the month of August 1793, Dr Mitchell was ordained to the pastoral office,—that eminent and lamented father in the Secession, the Rev. Dr Ferrier of Paisley, presiding on the occasion. Deeply impressed with its solemn responsibilities, he entered on its functions with the most devoted zeal; and by his unwearied labours, and his instructive and attractive preaching-the fruit of assiduous study-the congregation, from small beginnings, grew in numbers and in influence.

The same overruling Providence which secured to the congregation of Anderston the privilege of his ministry, brought about an event which was the chief source of his earthly happiness. In the walks of that Christian benevolence with which both their hearts were inspired, he met her who soon after became a true "help meet for him"-the sweetener of his joys and the solace of his griefs,-who, by rendering his home delightful, smoothed his path, and lightened the load of his official anxieties and avocations,-and who watched over the congregation and all its interests with maternal affection, rejoicing in their progress, and ministering, in her sphere, to their consolation and strength. While discharging with conscientious zeal the duties of his pastorate, and watching over the training of a numerous family, who have risen up to "call him blessed," he yet found time to devote to objects of a more public and general character,-frequently of a literary kind, but always in keeping with the grand object to which he had consecrated his life. In this spirit he wrote his "Essay on the best means of Civilizing the Subjects of the British Empire in India, and of diffusing the light of the Christian Religion throughout the Eastern World." In the year 1804, the Rev. Dr Claudius Buchanan gave to the University of Glasgow the sum of L.100, to be awarded by them as a prize for the best dissertation on this subject. Dr Mitchell was pronounced by the judges to be the successful competitor. His essay was composed at hasty intervals, and from scanty materials; but it is full of important and varied information, of enlarged and almost prophetic views, and breathes the very soul of genuine Christian philanthropy. This, and other literary labours, the results of which were never published, occupied those hours of cessation from more important duties, which most men would have devoted to relaxation and rest.

In the year 1815, he received the honorary degree of D.D. from the College of Princeton, New Jersey, one of the oldest and most cole

brated of the American scats of learning, over which the illustrious Jonathan Edwards at one time presided, and which has always maintained a high standing as a theological institution. The University of Glasgow, at which he had studied, in 1837 conferred on him a similar honour; and there can be no doubt that his high standing as a scholar and minister of the gospel entitled him to these marks of distinction.

The Synod of our Church, deeming it expedient to render the course of theological study preparatory to the ministry more varied and comprehensive, determined on instituting a second professorship. At their meeting in 1825, they elected Dr Mitchell to the chair of Biblical Literature, thus testifying the estimation in which they held his ministerial qualifications, his literary talents and acquirements, and his capacity for guiding the studies, forming the characters, and inspiring with proper sentiments the minds of those who looked forward to sacred office. On the discharge of the duties of this highly honourable and important trust he entered in 1826 with his usual ardour and zeal, and the successful manner in which he performed them, will be readily attested by those who were privileged to enjoy the benefit of his instructions. He felt his hands strengthened by being associated in the superintendence of the Hall with that venerable man, and most accomplished theologian, Dr Dick. Harmoniously and happily did they prosecute together their high and responsible calling, till the lamented decease of the latter in 1833. The warm and unbroken christian friendship which existed between them, is now perfected in that world of light and love, amid the beatitudes of which they both "rest from their labours." In a sermon preached on occasion of his departure from the scene of his earthly ministrations, Dr Mitchell draws a beautiful and striking portraiture of his character, and pays an eloquent tribute to his exalted talents and worth. After Dr Dick's death, our Theological Institution was again remodelled and extended. Dr Mitchell then became associated in its duties with Dr Brown, who fills his office with so much honour to himself and advantage to the Church, and the connexion thus formed between them was characterised to its close by mutual and affectionate confidence. At the same time the Senior division of the Hall was placed under the able superintendence of Dr Duncan and Dr Balmer.

Blessed with a naturally vigorous constitution, Dr Mitchell was enabled to overtake, with almost no interruption, the joint duties of the ministry and the professorship. Age was, however, stealing on apace, and impairing, although almost imperceptibly, his powers of exertion. The warm attachment of his people to him, and just appreciation of the value of his life, induced them to decide on obtaining a colleague to divide with him the responsibilities and labours of the ministerial charge. In June 1840, having received and accepted their call, the Rev. John Robson became united with him in the oversight of the congregation. With one heart they laboured together, till in November 1841, when engaged in prayer by the side of a sick-bed, Dr Mitchell's fr me was touched by the first premonition of approaching paralysis. Within a few weeks a distinct attack of that disease affected his left side, and, al hough he partially recovered, his strength and, vigour never fully returned. Severe domestic affliction soon afterwards succeeded and weighed down his spirit She, who had been his solace,

was now the object of his solicitude; and his colleague's illness added to his anxiety and grief. Yet his mind was never clouded, nor his desire to engage in public duty weakened. As often as his strength enabled him, he repaired to the sanctuary to worship with his flock, to lead their devotions, to express their thanksgivings, to exhort them in view of the communion, or to speak to them the words of eternal life. At the close of the theological session in the autumn of the year 1842, he delivered a lengthened, instructive, and impressive valedictory address to the students, and shortly afterwards he was visited with another attack of the disease which had at first "weakened his strength by the way." His constitution in some measure rallied, and he again resumed his occasional appearances among his people. The sad bereavement by which his partner was removed from him, succeeded in spring, and materially affected his remaining vigour. Still he was not entirely unfitted for public duty, and on occasion of the communion in October last, he addressed the communicants after the distribution of the elements with his accustomed beauty and unction. This terminated his public services in the church below. He then caught cold, which his enfeebled frame proved unable to throw off. By it he was gradually exhausted, and his strength wasted away, till on the 25th of January last, in the full possession of all his faculties, and in the exercise of calm but firm and joyful reliance on the mercy of his God, he gently fell asleep in Jesus.

During the progress of his illness, and especially as the close of life drew near, he was, when able, continually giving audible expression to the exercises of his mind and heart. Those who were privileged to listen to his affecting and instructive sayings will not soon forget them, nor the spirit of holy elevation in which they were uttered.

After the serious attack which he had, subsequently to his exertion at the close of the Hall in 1842, and when he had gone to the country for retirement, he said-" I bless God for all the goodness and mercy which have followed me all my life long,-supporting me and enabling me, weak and worthless, to do what I have done, amid many difficulties and discouragements. I have fought the good fight,' weakly, it may be, foolishly, and, as Dr M'Culloch says, wickedly, but sincerely;

I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also who love his appearing. Remember me to my brother and colleague, and say to him that I pray the Lord to bless and prosper him and the congregation. Remember me to the congregation-my beloved and attached people!" -When the church had been shut for some Sabbaths to undergo repairs, and about the time of its opening, he said-" Remember me to my brother and colleague, and say to him that I hope we shall be joint participators in the glory that shall be revealed,' and that with myself he will have many of the congregation for his joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus.' Remember me to the members of Session. Bid them be united and peaceful as heretofore. To the congregation say that I love them; that I cherish good hopes concerning them; that I expected to be present with them on the re-opening of the church, that place where I delighted to be; the place of prayer ;