I very gladly and gratefully accept of your kind proposal as to the additional payments which place me on a high vantage-ground for the full establishment of our system.

Lord Jeffrey's offering was not in homage to the Free Church, but because of the general merits of our cause, as associated with the enlightenment and moralization of the people. I called on him the other day. He is indeed a very amiable and engaging person, and one of the best specimens I know of the natural man, with great respect, too, for Christianity, even in its most serious and evangelical form. Heaven grant that it may ripen ere he dies into a personal and saving faith.* With most cordial and Christian regards to the Misses Lenox, ever believe me, my dear sir, yours most affectionately and with greatest esteem,

THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCCXXXIX.-To Dr. D. STEBBINS, NORTHAMPTON,

MASSACHUSETTS.

EDINBURGH, 30th May, 1844. MY DEAR AND VENERABLE FRIEND-I can not adequately express the interest which I feel in the relic of Edwards, which you have had the goodness to bestow upon me. I have long esteemed as the greatest of theologians, combin

Him

* 24 Moray Place, Saturday evening, 17th November, 1847.Reverend and DEAR SIR-I intrusted my subscription entirely to the discretion of Dr. Chalmers, and can not have the least objection to its now being disposed of as may seem best to the trustees who have been honored by his confidence, and are following out his instructions.

I have been very much touched and gratified by what you are kind enough to inform me as to the degree of indulgence and favor with which that great and good man was pleased, in the large benignity of his nature, to regard my humble efforts in the great cause to which his life was devoted, and can truly say that I still cherish his memory with the sincerest love and veneration.

I am much struck with the appeal in behalf of the Holyrood Church, which you inclose for my consideration, and beg leave to annex a check for a small sum as a contribution for its completion. I have the honor to be, dear sir, your obliged and faithful, &c., &c.

To the Rev. W. Hanna.

F. JEFFREY.

ing, in a degree that is quite unexampled, the profoundly intellectual with the devotedly spiritual and sacred, and realizing in his own person a most rare, yet most beautiful harmony between the simplicity of the Christian pastor, on the one hand; and on the other, all the strength and prowess of a giant in philosophy, so as at once to minister from Sabbath to Sabbath, and with most blessed effect, to the hearers of his plain congregation; and yet, on the high field of authorship to have traveled, in a way that none had ever done before him, the most inaccessible places, and achieved such a mastery as had never till his time been realized over the most arduous difficulties of our science.

There is no European divine to whom I make such frequent appeals in my class-room as I do to Edwards-no book of human composition which I more strenuously recommend than his "Treatise on the Will," read by me forty-seven years ago, with a conviction that has never since faltered, and which has helped me, more than any other uninspired book, to find my way through all that might otherwise have proved baffling and transcendental, and mysterious in the peculiarities of Calvinism.

You will not wonder, then, at my value for the memorial which, through my friend Dr. Cunningham, you have put into my hands. I will place it beside the autograph sermon of Edwards, which I received from his grandson, Mr. Dwight, a good many years ago, and which, along with the autograph in my possession of Brainerd and the Missionary Elliot, I cherish as the most precious of my literary treasures.

It is my earnest prayer, venerable father and friend, that yours may be an evening of piety and peace, and that the manifestations of light and love from the upper sanctuary may descend upon your soul, so that while drawing near to death you may be ripening for eternity.

But whatever your experiences may be, and they are exceedingly various even with the most experienced Christians, may you at all times be enabled from looking inwardly upon

yourself, to look upwardly and outwardly on the great object of revelation-the Sun of Righteousness - so that, like an eminent countryman of yours, when asked on his death-bed about his frames and feelings, you might be enabled to make the constant and confident reply-" that there is mercy with God in Christ Jesus." I ever am, my dear sir, yours most cordially and gratefully, THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCCXL.-TO THE REV. DR. MERLE d'Aubigné.

EDINBURGH, 24th March, 1845.

MY VERY DEAR SIR-Excuse my employing an amanuensis, which is better for you, as I have a very illegible handwriting, which, in conjunction with my English, might make it all the more difficult for your perusal.

I very much rejoice in having heard from you. I have been meditating a letter to you for months, to intimate the eager expectancy of the Christian public here for your fourth volume, and also to communicate with you on the all-important subject of Christian union. But I do hope we shall have the pleasure of meeting with you in Edinburgh, when we can talk at large over both these subjects.

Before addressing myself to your special inquiries, let me first state the high sense I have of the Christian and theological importance of your work on the Reformation. It is not of its interest as an historical record that I alone speak; but, over and above this, I have read no didactic or even devotional human work more fitted to impress upon the reader the precious doctrine of justification by faith, or endear to him what was so dear to the mind of Luther-the sentiment of "The Lord our righteousness."

I rejoice in the commencement of our correspondence. May the Giver of all grace pour on you and yours His best blessings; and let me entreat you to believe me, my very dear sir, yours with the utmost esteem and regard,

THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCCXLI.-TO THE REV. DR. MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ. MORNINGSIDE, 3d June, 1845.

MY VERY DEAR SIR-You asked me to point out the most interesting objects for a small western excursion from Glasgow. It delights me to hear that our moderator, who is far better acquainted with the localities of that region than myself, is willing personally to undertake your guidance through Argyleshire, and to one or two of our most interesting islands. I should have liked that, as an ecclesiastical historian, you could have seen St. Andrews, the ancient ecclesiastical metropolis of Scotland, and seat of our Scottish Reformation, and I do hope that you will make out Iona, the place of the great St. Columbus, and noted as a religious asylum from very ancient times.

It would have gladdened my heart could I have accompanied you; but I confess myself to be fairly worn out, and, after my exertion in Glasgow on Sunday, will stand urgently in need of repose.

I need not say how much both yourself and Madame D'Aubigné have grown upon the affections of us all. My own family, in particular, have the utmost desire for intercourse with you both, and should indeed rejoice in it as a great privilege could we obtain a quiet day or two of your and her society in the charming retreat of Fairley, in Ayrshire. The lady whose house we occupy there (Miss M'Call) desires us to invite you; and my four daughters, whom you have not seen, and who are there before us, have been put into a state of greatest expectancy; and I feel assured that matters could be so arranged as to fall in with your other movements, and secure you needful rest as well as expedite your journey.

There is nothing I would more prize than leisurely and uninterrupted converse with you for as long a time as you can possibly spare. I ever am, my dearest sir, yours with the utmost esteem and regard, THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCCXLII.-TO THE REV. DR. MErle d'AubignÉ. EDINBURGH, 7th February, 1846.

MY VERY DEAR SIR-I should have replied to yours of the 19th of January sooner; but I can not regret the delay, for only a few minutes ago has your new volume been put into my hands, and I have just read its noble preface, so well fitted to silence and to shame all adversaries. My family are now devouring it, and I expect myself to achieve its perusal in a few days. I have already seen some of the proof-sheets, and was much pleased with the spirited and impressive style of the translation.

Many thanks to you, my dear sir, for your deeply affecting details on the subject of your mother's death. They forcibly reminded me of my own mother's death, which took place in February, 1827. She died in the triumphs of the faith.

I observe that the Vaudois Free Church is not without its perplexities, especially on the subject of a confession. We may get involved in difficulties, too, on the question of the Evangelical Alliance, about which some of our Presbytery are beginning to make a stir. It will not be the knowledge that puffeth up, but the charity which edifieth, that will practically resolve this question.

I beg my best regards to Madame D'Aubigné, in which all our family most cordially join. May I beg that you will also offer my friendly and respectful acknowledgments to Monsieur Gaussen. I read with great interest the opening of your winter session. I ever am, my dear sir, yours with great esteem and affection, THOMAS CHALMERS.

No. CCCXLIII.-TO THE REV. DR. MERLE D'AubignÉ. EDINBURGH, 14th February, 1846.

MY DEAR SIR-I have now finished the reading of your fourth volume, and can not sufficiently express my interest and admiration. In point of narrative, I believe that the latter half of it will prove the more attractive to the general