clouds of a confused sky, our imagination can picture forth the outlines of animals, or castles, or forests, or any thing, which seem to grow more and more distinct, the longer we gaze. But where have I wandered to? I might have told you in one little sentence, that I felt these metaphysical reasonings to be as unsatisfactory as you do, who have dived deeper into their profundities. Let me say, however, before leaving this tantalizing subject, that I do think the existence, (and if the existence, of course the natural attributes of God,) abundantly proved by the objects around

us.

For this, Dr. Brown says, and I think truly, that we have not to search far amid the mysteries of nature, to find proofs; far less to tread the labyrinths of a priori argumentation. He who sees not a Deity in the marks and designs displayed in his own body, or in many of the most familiar objects around him, will not be convinced by demonstration itself.

To leave this then.-How delightful the facts of the gospel and the well-accredited testimony of an eye-witness from the world of spirits! But I know the dreadful subject, which is the cause (shall I say, which was the cause) of your doubts and your distress. Millions created for a moment's giddy pleasure,--and then an eternity of unmingled wretchedness. Ah, my friend,

the argument has struck my mind too with overwhelming force; and its stroke has cut the deeper, edged, as it has been in my case, (I believe in your's too,) with the poignant reflection, that some whom I hold dearest "according to the flesh," seem, at present, to be walking on to the gulph of eternal perdition. But why should I

me. Oh, if there is ever a time that this proud heart can think with real delight of its own insignificance and ignorance, it is, when_oppressed by this awfully mysterious subject. When my mind has been darkened by presumptuous thoughts regarding the justice and mercy of the Eternal, the feeble ray of a single twinkling star, has seemed like a ray of hope; and the conception of myriads of such worlds, or clusters of worlds, if it has not dispelled the darkness of the soul, has at least given the certain expectation, that soon it WILL be dispelled. What are we, that we should fathom the counsels of the eternal and omnipotent Jehovah? "Who art thou, O man, that repliest against God?" Has not God revealed to us enough, to warrant this trial of our faith, especially when the express assurance is given, that a time is coming, when we shall "know as we are known."

After writing this long letter, I am almost ashamed of it. I have written, as if I were combating the arguments of an infidel, instead of attempting to console a christian brother, whom the adversary has been permitted to attack. It would, indeed, be cruel to heal up a cankering wound, ere it had been probed to the very bottom; but I think I am not guilty of this, when I say, that even in that most dismal letter, there are the proofs of a regenerated soul. Peter was given up to the temptations of Satan, that he might be shown his own weakness. Some of the most eminent servants of God have been left to wander even into the dreary regions of atheism for a while, as if to shew their own depravity, when unassisted by divine grace. O do not talk of the unwilling rejection of a God! All Atheists are wilful

Atheists. This, I must believe, while I believe the Bible. God has had some end in view, my dear friend, in giving you up to these dreadful thoughts. I trust he will bring good out of seeming evil, and that this severe trial will lead you to lie more humbly at the foot of the cross, and to put less confidence than ever in the speculations of a bewildering philosophy. Excuse; no, I will not say excuse, I have spoken with the freedom of christian love. I have not half answered your letter, and yet my paper is quite full.

Remember me to our dear Nesbit, if he is still with you. The same post that brought your last, gave me the delightful news of another added to our little band of christian missionaries, our much respected Rentoul. I have had a letter to-day from John Adam, making the very solemn proposal of joining him, in a mission to Madras,-to leave this country in two years. Pray for my direction. We return to Dysart in the middle of next month, to be there for some time. I am glad of this, for here I am alone as to christian intercourse. If I were actively employed in the service of the Lord, I think I could be happy in a desert; but here I do little or nothing. In study, I have done a little;-I have read the first book of Samuel in Hebrew;-three books of the Anabasis of Zenophon, which seems to throw some light on the style of the New Testament. In Theology, I have studied Paley's Evidences pretty carefully, and Bishop Lowth's Prelections. I have nearly finished Dr. Pye Smith's Scripture Testimony to the Messiah (a most interesting work, which I beg earnestly to recommend to

sheim's Church History.

scarcely give over writing.

It is late, but I can

His friend, Mr. Herbert Smith, having proposed to him to assist, and co-operate with him, in some plans of usefulness which he was pursuing, it produced the following letter in reply:

My dear Friend;

Tennoch Side, August 30, 1826.

If I have delayed a few days in answering your very interesting letter, you can easily guess the reason. Your proposal demanded consideration and prayer. Did I make my own feelings the standard of my conduct, I should, in all probability, without hesitation, have answered your kind proposal with a hearty affirmative. Two circumstances, in my present situation, have contributed not a little to depress my spirits, the want of christian society, and an exclusion from active exertion in the cause of the gospel. You can conceive then, how delightful to my imagination was the picture of a truly christian companion, co-operating with me in acts of evangelical usefulness, and exciting me to more zealous exertion. Were inclination my guide, then, you see how gladly I should have embraced your kind offer. But this would have been wrong. In forming any plan, we must not calculate on our own enjoyment merely. The christian must look to higher objects. His question must be, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" On considering the matter, therefore, in this light, I feel constrained, (in spite of my own longings to comply,) for the present at least, to decline personally co-operating

in your interesting scheme. The difference of our religious sentiments, in a few points, has not influenced me in the slightest degree in my decision, except in the single point that it occurred to me, that the fact not of my being, but of my being called a dissenter, might probably impede, more than your liberality may allow you to suspect, the promotion of a plan, which, from its very nature, must depend a good deal for its success, on the co-operation of churchmen of all descriptions. Had I thought of accepting, this must have made me hesitate; but as it is, other reasons have determined my opinion, that it is my duty to remain in Scotland for some little time.

There is a sort of understanding, (although no positive agreement,) that I remain in Col. Morland's family for a year. I have now been nearly four months. Here I have only one pupil; and, of course, much time for study, which I think invaluable, as I know not how soon my opportunities of study may be past. I am particularly anxious to study closely the original Scriptures, in case of being employed in the very responsible work of translation. This reconciles me to a retirement from active exertion in the mean time, although even in that point, I hope to be able to do a little in the neighboring cottages. I should feel it cowardly to fly from a station where God has placed me in his providence, perhaps from some gracious purpose, merely because it deprives me of some pleasures, for which the Lord himself knows well how to compensate. The soldier in the camp must not murmur, because he wants the comforts of domestic happiness. To all human