unholy, we must be unhappy. A change of character then is the only hope of deliverance. And for this, most ample means are provided in the gospel of Christ. The very history of that atonement which procured our pardon, has a tendency, while we meditate upon it, to promote our holiness. While we look to Christ, we are made like him. While we behold that glory with unveiled faces, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory. It is by believing in Christ then, and thinking much of his person and his history, that we shall find that wisdom, and get that understanding, which shall make us truly happy. For thus shall we fear the Lord, in the sense of that term; and thus too shall we be led to depart from evil.

My dear Trail;

Dysart House, October 13, 1826.

Perhaps I should have written sooner, but I trust you will not attribute this delay to want of I have really nothing particular to com'municate, except my very sincere thanks for your truly kind and refreshing letter. I trust this will find you a preacher of the gospel; and I am sure, if once all external barriers are removed; the state of those around you, will constrain you to be instant in season, and out of season. You mention having heard from our dear friend Adam; and I suppose, he addressed you on the subject which has taken possession of his whole soul. Have you been thinking more of the missionary work. I feel the argument for personal engagement every day more strong; and if there are times when I have a longing persuasion that it may be my duty

to remain at home, they are times when the chilling influence of the world has cooled every holy affection. This convinces me, more than any thing, that the matter is of God. Did I tell you, that our friend, Rentoul, has been so impressed with the duty of preaching to the Heathen, as to have almost (I trust, by this time, altogether) decided on offering his services to the London Missionary Society? Henry Craik has written me, since his arrival at Exeter, which he seems to like very much. John Brown and he are making some exertion for the spiritual good of the people. I had a letter from Mr. Adam yesterday, who seems to think of Madras as the place of his destination. I suppose he had begun to study Sunskirt when he wrote to you. He goes on with it. I could have wished much to accompany John Adam, but many circumstances seem to demand a considerable delay on my part. May the Lord make me submissive. I know his ways are the best. Generally on looking back, we can see that every step we took was necessary for our welfare, although when we took these steps, all was darkness and perplexity;-"The Lord leadeth the blind. by a way that they know not." It is a privilege

even to be blind, if we have such a Leader. Since we came here, the Earl of Rosslyn's family have been all at home, and there has been a good deal of company. Lord Loughborough, Lord Rosslyn's son, was married last Tuesday.

I feel that the near approach of rank and fashion has a strong, though almost imperceptible influence, in superinducing a spirit of worldliness. Every new scene that opens to me, convinces me that the world in which we live is more dan

temptation shows me that my strength is utter weakness. How difficult to learn the lesson of our own utter worthliness. Experience alone can teach it. O that we may be enabled to look more simply to Christ alone! In him we are complete. Through Christ strengthening us we can do all things. I thank you for your kind present, and for your still kinder advices. Pray for me, that the Lord would uphold me, for I feel that I walk on slippery places. Nesbit will be in Edinburgh soon, but has not yet arrived. W. S. Moncrieff, and W. Alexander, my old companions, are the only persons I know going to St. Andrew's.

I hope they will be strenuous in their exertions. We return soon to the neighborhood of Glasgow, where I expect to spend the winter.

Dysart House, October 16, 1826. My very dear Friend;

I have just been conning over your very interesting letter, by way of foraging for my own pen, for I fear this will be a very barren and uninteresting letter. Every line of your epistle is filled with what is interesting, so that I scarcely know what to allude to first. The first thing that strikes me, is, that the date of this letter is exactly a month later than your's, which was the time fixed for our dear Nesbit's leaving you. I trust he has left you, else I shall be denied the pleasure of an interview with him, as I pass through Edinburgh, for Tennoch Side, the end of this week. But, by the way, when your letter was written, you did not know I had left that part of the country. It is now about five weeks, since Colonel M.'s family came to Dysart, and on leaving our former residence, I was permitted to pay a visit to Perth,

which was doubly sweet to me, from having been removed for a time from all who were like-minded. One thing I was much disappointed in,-my parents showed a more determined opposition than ever to my going to the Heathen. I had hoped that, by this time, they would have been quite reconciled, and I had formed my plans accordingly. I have now no plan. I am waiting till the Lord, by his providence, point out the way to me. Even my dear John Adam recommends delay in my circumstances. I fear he must leave me behind him, for I suppose, to be qualified to go with him even as an assistant, I should require to be in London immediately. But it is well that we should have our plans frustrated. God has marked out the way for us already, and it is very presumptuous in us to try to mark it out for ourselves. I feel that the present is very apt to be overlooked, in laying schemes for the future, and the opportunities of usefulness that daily present themselves, are apt to be neglected in the imagination of still more favorable opportunities that are to come. This is evidently at device of Satan's. How many precepts have we in Scripture to guard us against this delusion.

Since I have been here, I have seen a good Ideal of what is called the world. Lord Rosslyn's family has been at home, and there has been a good deal of company. There is a fas-*

cination about rank, and fashion, and gaiety, and splendor, which has an almost imperceptible influence even on the heart that is conscious of their utter vanity. The smile of the world is more dangerous than its frown; and the kindness and attention of those who are called great, have a strong tendency to lead away from the

simplicity that is in Christ. This I have, in some degree, experienced. Lord Rosslyn is of a very kind and obliging disposition. Lady Jannet, his daughter, is also very amiable. But almost every individual I have met with in these gay circles, has appeared to be in a state of utter estrangement from God. They live as if there were no God. Some never enter a church. Those who do go occasionally, hear the gospel here, but it makes no impression. In the conversations of the evening, I have never heard the most distant reference to the Deity, or to any thing that had any relation to his existence, except the repeated insults that are offered to him, by taking his name in vain. Is this the character of our most dignified senators? And is this the condition of all who move in our most refined circles? Well then may the muse weep for England! But God be thanked, there are some illustrious exceptions. O let us pray that their number may be increased!

I do not know whether I ever wrote any thing about my pupil.. He is a boy of a very affectionate and amiable disposition: and if I am not mistaken, he has an intellect of no ordinary cast. But he has been quite spoiled, he has never been accustomed to obey any body, and has never been punished for a fault. Of course, you can see, in such a case, I have a good deal to try me, but yet I have encouragement too. He has been several times a good deal impressed with the doctrines of the gospel, and though these impressions may wear off again, at present they give encouragement to hope and pray, that the heart which has been influenced by them, may be, sooner or later, entirely subjected to the Lord. I rejoice