explained and applied. Mr. Austin found it difficult to believe that pure and scriptural teaching could be found out of the Church in which he had been brought up; but the fellow-soldier who first led him to worship with Nonconformists, powerfully "reasoned" with him, "out of the Scriptures," in favour of universal redemption, justification by faith, the witness of the Spirit, and the allied doctrines. The result was a conviction that, though the truth was held by pious Episcopalians, it was far from being confined to their branch of the Universal Church. It was not without diligent and long-continued examination of evidence that Mr. Austin arrived at his conclusions; but this yielded a satisfaction which he felt to be beyond all price. Firm reliance and almost uninterrupted peace crowned his unwearied labour in investigating "the doctrine according to godliness," and all that pertains to the great salvation.

He who manifested greater concern for Mr. Austin than for himself, occupied a bed in the same room. On many a morning, before four o'clock, the Bible was opened in confirmation of arguments for the theology which is often called Wesleyan. It was considered a marvellous thing that a man, known to have no religion, should make such use of his Bible. The story ran through the barracks; and many sought to put him to silence, but in vain. He overturned all they advanced, and taught them that they must either employ better reasoning or hold their peace. A mournful fact explains this man's ability to defend the truths he practically trampled under foot. He had once" tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come;" but, like many others whose condition might well be lamented with tears of blood, he had "made shipwreck of faith and a good conscience."

Mr. Austin was prepared, in some blessed measure, to "receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save the soul." But it was not until he began to associate with God's people, by meeting in class, that he enjoyed the comforts of the Holy Ghost. He was not long a hearer before he was kindly taken by the hand, and personally encouraged to present himself a living sacrifice unto God. His marked attention to the preaching of the word awakened hope concerning the issue. There were zealous Christians on the look-out for souls growing weary of sin, and longing to find rest in the wounds of a crucified Saviour. One of his fellow-worshippers soon said to him," We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel." It was most grateful to the feelings of Mr. Austin to receive a welcome to the benefits of church-fellowship; and such was the state of his mind, that he waited for no second invitation. Nor did he need to be told that the Lord was with the people among whom he worshipped. He judged it to be so, from their Christian simplicity; from their devout attention to the things spoken; from the united and gracious feeling with which prayer and praise were presented to God; from the solemn view they manifestly took of eternal things; from

the absence of conformity to the world in their dress, their spirit, and their conduct; and from all the evidences that they, being "spiritually minded," had "life and peace." This judgment his own experience confirmed. At the first class-meeting he attended, he listened with joy to those whose sweet assurance of pardon, fellowship with God, and readiness to tell what He had done for their souls, greatly astonished him. Their brotherly kindness tended, meanwhile, to win his love. He was urged to seek with increased earnestness the pearl of great price; and, at the prayer-meeting held during the following week, he obtained mercy from God, and was so fully assured of his adoption into God's family that he was troubled with no remaining doubt. His peace became settled. Various temptations assailed him,-temptations to doubt the sufficiency of our Lord's atonement, or his own actual safety. But God still gave him power to "believe with the heart unto righteousness," and he gained the victory.

The new-born believer soon encountered peculiar trials. His associates could tolerate his morality so long as he had no concern for his soul; but now smiles were exchanged for frowns. He became an object of noisy ridicule; and several men united their skill and strength to draw him into a snare they had set for his feet. They first did all in their power to provoke him; then they took an opposite course,— endeavouring, by pretended kindness and generosity, to allure him into the tavern, whence they assured themselves he should not depart in a state of sobriety. But repeated disappointments cooled their fiery zeal. Finding their sinful attempts useless, they suddenly desisted; and he enjoyed a comparative quiet and seclusion, which he valued more highly than the companionship of fools. He attended an unusual number of the means of grace; and the rather, as he found this a convenient method of separating himself from the ungodly. He had considerable leisure; and often, when the doors of his own sanctuary were closed, he repaired to another, and thus maintained profitable intercourse with Christians of more than one denomination,-by whom he was esteemed, honoured, and spiritually assisted. The frequency and regularity with which he left the barracks made some of the younger men curious as to the manner in which he disposed of himself. One of these, wondering what place or exercise could prove so unfailingly attractive to our friend, took occasion to watch his movements. Had Mr. Austin been accustomed thus regularly to devote his leisure to scenes of frivolity, a deadly effect might have been produced upon the individual whose curiosity had been awakened. It is gratifying to report a very different result. When the youth saw that it was the pleasantness of religion that drew the Christian soldier from unhallowed mirth, and that the sanctuary was the point of attraction, he too was encouraged to call up his better feelings. He made Mr. Austin his friend: he sought and obtained grace to stand forth, amid temptations from men and devils, as a witness for God. That youth was subsequently present at several severe engagements, but his life was preserved. He was present in

the Nicolson-square chapel when the death of his early friend and guide was improved by remarks embodied in this Memoir; and he is still usefully and honourably employed in more than one department of Christian toil.

Among the fruits of genuine conversion, a thirst for Christian knowledge found place in Mr. Austin's heart. He had been considered a reader before he knew the Lord; but now his taste was vastly improved, and his diligence was increased. For the study of the Bible he never lost his relish. He continued to the last to feed upon the bread of life. He daily read a portion of Wesley's Notes on the New Testament, and of other expository works. Dr. Adam Clarke's Commentary he carefully read, from beginning to end, five times and, in going through that voluminous work for the sixth time, he proceeded as far as Exodus; when it pleased God to remove him from a state in which the most enlightened can but "see through a glass, darkly," and the most devout can but "know in part," to the world where "that which is in part is "done away," and departed saints see "face to face," and "know even as also they are "known."

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Mr. Austin was able in a high degree to appreciate even a learned commentary. It will surprise some to hear that he made considerable use of the originals of the sacred text. He had been won by the earnestness of his favourite author in commending the study of Hebrew and Greek; and he considered no privation, toil, or sacrifice too great to encounter in acquiring the languages upon which his heart was set. It was whilst he resided at the Fort of Leith that he began to learn Greek. By regularly setting apart an hour a day for the study, with the help of a teacher, he was enabled comparatively soon to read the Greek New Testament. He next turned his attention to Hebrew. Having availed himself of elementary books, he eagerly sought an introduction to a competent teacher; and he determined to wait upon the late Rev. Dr. Ireland, Minister of the Scotch Church, who then resided at Leith, to beg the favour of his advice. Dr. Ireland kindly listened to all he had to say; put many questions, with a view of ascertaining his motives; and declared himself so well pleased to find a soldier anxious to improve his time in this creditable manner, and so deeply interested in the whole case, that he himself offered to impart the instruction thus earnestly desired. Mr. Austin was exceedingly thankful for the unexpected privilege; and, in afterdays, Dr. Ireland frequently expressed himself as being proud of his pupil. The latter found it necessary to gain additional time; and he devoted, to his deeply interesting and soul-refreshing study, many hours that would otherwise have been spent in sleep. Having passed through a laborious ordeal as a learner, he reaped no inconsiderable fruit of his toil. Both languages he now read, so as to derive from them much delight and profit. Tedious days and hours were henceforth unknown to him: for, when he had time at his disposal, he spent nearly the whole of each forenoon in seeking confirmation of the faith he found precious to his soul, by comparing our translation

of the Scriptures with the sacred originals. Knowledge humbled while it enlightened him; showed him that, although some little land was gained, there were vast fields yet to be explored; and made him more anxious to increase his store, than to waste his time in useless exhibition. His learning, though limited, had cost immense labour and unceasing self-denial; but he was so far from parading it, that many of his familiar friends were ignorant of his attainments.

Mr. Austin was treated with remarkable respect and confidence by those in authority over him in the army. It commonly fell to his lot to have charge of important outposts, at a distance from the headquarters of his company. For about three years he had command of a detachment of artillery and ordnance-stores at the Orkneys; and there he was remarkably useful. The men under him, knowing his character, announced to the people (without consulting him upon the subject) that if they wished to be visited in sickness, to have prayer offered to God in their behalf, or to receive religious instruction, they were sure that Sergeant Austin would be glad to do all in his power to promote their welfare. Modesty is well known to have been a prominent feature in the Sergeant's character; but he was not the less energetic. When there was no public worship in the parish church, (and this privilege was afforded but once in three or four weeks,) he regularly met on the Sabbath a congregation drawn from all parts of the island on which he resided. To that congregation he administered the word of life, not by preaching, but by reading Mr. Wesley's Sermons. Everything in his power he willingly did to render the service monitory to sinners and edifying to believers. It was at an early hour that he took his final departure from the island which had been the scene of his interesting labours; and he was desirous to leave, if possible, unobserved. This, however, his grateful friends could not permit. Many "accompanied him to the ship;" and they "wept sore," sorrowing most of all" to think they should probably "see his face no more." In the presence and the tears of a great number, who had known his going out and his coming in amongst them, Mr. Austin had affecting and encouraging proof that he had not spent his strength for nought. Many parents testified their respect by calling their children by his name; and great efforts were made to induce him, after his discharge, to settle among a people anxious again to profit by his Christian exertions. It would have been anything but unpleasant to the spiritually-minded Sergeant to meet their wishes; but circumstances required him to reside elsewhere.

Several providential deliverances occurred to Mr. Austin when in active service; for which he was ever afterwards ready to give thanks unto God. In 1807 he went to Copenhagen, with the expedition under the command of Admiral Gambier and Lord Cathcart, and witnessed the bombardment of that city. As Mr. Austin was one of the Royal Artillery, his hazardous duties constantly exposed him to death. In one instance he was stooping at the precise moment when, had he continued to stand erect, he must have been shot. At another

time he experienced an almost miraculous deliverance, when a shell destroyed the lives of an officer and five other men, none of whom appeared to be more in danger than himself.

In 1809 his company was ordered to embark, to join the expedition then under orders for Walcheren. It happened that the company had one man more than the required number; and Mr. Austin was the favoured one unexpectedly permitted to remain at home, and so to escape many dangers and horrors. In these and many other instances, he ascribed his rescue from danger to the special interposition of an unseen Guardian, without whose permission not a hair of the head can perish. Mr. Austin was no boaster; but, with humble, adoring gratitude, he was accustomed to declare, that his faith had not failed in the time of his utmost perils, and that he had been divinely enabled then to maintain a "good hope, through grace," of being at last numbered with the glorified. From the battle-field he looked forward to the end of his earthly conflicts; assured that, if he fell amid the din of arms, he would fall to rise, and that his redeemed and sanctified spirit would enter a world where his victory would be complete, his happiness supreme, his joy unbounded, and his glory everlasting.

In 1811 Mr. Austin stayed for a time in Edinburgh; but was required to spend a few years at other places before he permanently settled in the city where many of the last years of his life were usefully spent. For several years he could not be prevailed upon to occupy that position in the church to which his piety and talents entitled him. Yet his worth, as a man of thorough Christian principle, was soon discovered. Those with whom he became closely acquainted saw that he held much communion with God, and truly enjoyed the fellowship of saints. He was never known to stagger through unbelief. Living faith gave him power with God; and hence flowed that Christian love which prompted him to show such respect and kindness to his friends as drew them often to his habitation, and impressed upon their minds the value of saving religion. Both at home and abroad, he was known as a man of strictest integrity; as a Christian believer, whose humility was apparent in all his conversation; as an admirer of the excellencies he saw in his friends and fellow-worshippers,-ever ready from his heart to "esteem others better than himself;" and as a willing servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, who shrank from no Christian toil or responsibility, save that which he thought would unduly elevate him in the church. It was a matter of regret to several Superintendent Ministers of the Edinburgh Circuit, that Mr. Austin could not be induced to take charge of a class. At other places he had been considered quite a public man. The religious opportunities elsewhere enjoyed by his neighbours were so few, that he believed he could not innocently withhold any little service he had the power of rendering; but, as to Edinburgh, the conviction of his mind was, that if he refused to take the offices which the Ministers wished to give him, they would be more worthily and usefully filled by others. It must be added, however, that Mr. Austin