Christian sympathy, divine mercy, and sovereign saving grace on that solemn day when I preached by appointment of the Glasgow Missionary Society.

Often had I looked towards that day with the liveliest expectations of high spiritual enjoyment, in a new liberality of Christian communion, and in a new direction and extension of Christian benevolence. These presented to my mind so many great and pleasing scenes, that I thought of nothing but unmixed happiness. That day, so bright in prospect, came-but to me and my family, dark with all the terrors of death. A favourite Child, my only Son, just eight years of age, was snatched from the tender embrace of loving weeping Parents- after a very short illness, only alarming that morning, he in the evening closed his eyes in death.-That mournful event was so connected in my mind with the revisal of my papers for the press, that for a long time I could not apply to it at all, and never have I been able to attend, as I wished, to all the nicities of language and arrangement. But it is not for the sake of such apology that I have called the attention of my readers to this domes.

tic affliction-I mean by introducing it here, to acknowledge in the most public manner my obligations to the kind and tender sympathy so generally and so strongly expressed towards me and mine under that smarting trial, and to the very friendly attention and deep concern, as particularly testified by the Directors of the Glasgow Missionary Society. But especially, I do it to ascribe public praise to the God of all grace for the signal tokens of his love to my dear boyI will not mention the qualities of mind and manner, which had always endeared him to his parents, nor the various indications, which often before this, he had given of the influence of religion upon his heart, but I cannot be silent upon the visible remarkable efficacy of divine grace in him upon the day of his death.

He was enabled to think and speak of his approaching dissolution with manly composure and christian dignity, because he had laid hold on eternal life, and knew Christ Jesus to be the way, and the truth, and the life. He gave the most satisfying evidence of his knowledge of his own heart, and of the character and undertaking of Jesus Christ-though he had never been addicted to vicious practices, he felt strongly the

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evil of sin, and discovered no uneasiness but on account of sin-at the same time, he found and expressed his relief and satisfaction only in the blood of Christ as having been shed for the remission of sins.

Accustomed, as he had been, to the approbation and esteem of his parents, and the commendation of partial friends, he never once uttered a sentiment of dependence on any kind or degree of goodness in himself, but looked to Christ alone for acceptance and salvation-he poured out his heart in many and fervent prayers for sanctifying grace-out of his mouth the Lord indeed perfected praise-he recommended Christ to all around him-he expressed a strong attachment to us all-that he would have been happy to remain with us, but thought it far bet ter to be with Jesus: wished we were all going along with him, but said we would soon meet again.

These desires, and hopes, and joys, were not the pleasing dreams of delirium or of childhood -There was an instance or two of momentary wavering, but his devotions and conversation occupied many hours, with little interruptionin these his mind was distinct and collected, and

his faith rested on the word of God, he delight. ed in reading it, and made many references to it.

At length being ready through grace to obey his heavenly Father's call, he said, "Glory, glory, to the Lamb who died for me, he "will put a crown of righteousness on my head, "and clothe me with the garments of salvation." His strength soon failed, and he fell asleep in Jesus. The melting scene often comes fully before me-it can never be wholly absent from my mind-may I and all who witnessed it remem ber it always, so as to prepare, like him, to die in the Lord,

It was particularly remarkable, that a young mind like his, should have entered so fully into the views of the Missionary Society, and taken such a deep interest in the service of that day. He had devoted a small piece of money, the gift of a friend for his own use, his all, to this good cause-When I hastened home from my part of the public duty, he first requested me to pray with him, then made many inquiries, both of a public and personal nature, till he saw me unable to speak, and endeavoured to relieve me by a composed silence, and a sweet

serene countenance.-I felt my own weakness I saw his rising superiority, and admired the grace of God in him- Undoubtedly he was taught of God, and eminently sanctified by his Spirit.

I now desire to bless God for such a son-For permitting his parents to enjoy him for eight years-for making him so meet for the inheri tance of the saints in light, and for enabling him to give such powerful testimony in a dying hour to the glorious efficacy of divine grace. We desire to bow submissively to the stroke of his hand, while we present this public offering of praise for his wonderful mercy in the solemn af fecting crisis of a painful separation. And look to the day which shall unfold the mysteries of time, and display the glories of a happy eter nity. We have resigned to the supreme Lord of life and death our lovely child, in the hope of seeing him again in the lovelier form of a glorified resemblance to the Son of God.-Now

his body moulders in the dust, but his spirit, we trust, is in perfect life before the throne of God. And believing that Jehovah quickeneth the dead, and will, according to his promise, gather and revive the scattered withered bones of the hea