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. 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 your perusal,) and have just commenced Mo

In

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 appearance, indeed, there is little prospect of my

doing any thing here, to promote the knowledge of the truth, except through my pupil.

On the subject of missions, every prayer strengthens my purpose. I am aware of the glare of romance, which fancy may throw round the idea of christian expeditions to foreign lands; but I have tried to make due allowance for this, and have prayed that a youthful imagination might not lead me astray. The result is, I am every day more and more convinced, that my convictions in regard to this matter, are founded on Scripture. It is impossible, within the limits of a single sheet, to state the grounds of these convictions. I have written something on the subject, which I may, perhaps, have some opportunity of communicating to you in one shape or other. I have taken medical advice, and am told, that my constitution is more likely to stand in a warm climate, than if it were more robust;-but no definite opinion can be given on the subject. The same post which brought your's, brought a letter from our friend, John Adam, announcing his intention of going to Madras in two years, and asking me to accompany him. This is at present under consideration, and my decision may affect my more immediate plans. My present plans are, If the Lord will, to remain here till May or June next year, and then pay a farewell visit to my dear relations, before leaving them for ever in this life. It is a long time to look forward to next summer; but should you continue where you are, and think I could at all assist you, I may then, by the divine blessing on my studies, be able to give more efficient assistance for a month or two. In the mean time, I shall pray for your success, and perhaps you will have the kindness to let me hear soon how matters prosper.

Various friends interested in the religious welfare of Ireland, having requested him to take its claims on himself into consideration, he wrote the following letter to the Rev. John Burnett, of Cork, which I insert, not only as a part of his history, but to show the comprehensive views he could take of a subject, and how deeply he interested himself in every thing which related to the kingdom of Christ:

My dear Sir;

Tennoch Side.

I have had but a short notice of this opportunity of sending. The following are the queries that occur to me at the moment:

1.

What is the proportion of professed Protestants to Roman Catholics;-and what the state of religious knowledge and practice among the former?

2 What the proportion of evangelical ministers in the church of Ireland?

3.

What the number and character of Protestant Dissenting Ministers? I include Presbyterians of course.

4. Are any Itineracies undertaken by resident Irish Ministers,-and to what extent?

5. What is the number and character of the Hibernian Societies Agents? Are the readers also preachers, or are they all pious men? Of course, you understand me to mean, as far as our imperfect judgment can decide.

6. What is the number of the Hibernian Society's Schools and how taught? Are the schoolmasters understood to be pious men?

VOL. II.

15

Is religious