and others, by labouring to no purpose, with much expense of learning and argument, to reconcile things so diametrically opposite, and to unite two systems which it is the professed design and intention of the apostle to oppose to each other, and to show their necessary and irreconcileable contradiction. Rom. xi. 6.

In this situation of things he went on for some time, determined not to give up the point without obtaining full satisfaction; though to all appearance no nearer than when he first began, and even perplexed more and more. He could not suppose indeed that St. Paul could be wrong, being persuaded of the divine inspiration which attended his writings, or that things which he had written, were indeed unintelligible, much less that he would really inculcate or encourage licentiousness of life. Like a truly sensible man he began to suspect that the fault must be in himself, and in the system which he had adopted, and that he had not properly considered the Apostle's doctrine with all its connexions and relations: leaving therefore the bewildering guidance of commentators and expositors, he betook himself to the fountain of all knowledge, beseeching God and himself to teach and direct him*.

* While our author's mind was thus affected, many of his friends and acquaintance feared lest he was going out of his senses, through too great study and care about religion.This is nothing uncommon. The little attention which most people give to their souls, and the slight views which they have of the evil of sin, together with their lamentable ignorance of the great truths of God's word, make them form that suspicion of all who begin seriously to consider the infinite importance of these things, and to feel their weight; whereas it is only the just and natural effect of a right conviction of sin.-What should call for our distressing grief, if sin against God does not? Or what should engage all our anxiety equally with a concern how we may obtain pardon,

One morning in his study, being much distressed on the subject, he fell down upon his knees before God in prayer, spread his case before the Divine majesty and goodness, implored him to pity his distress, and to guide him by his Holy Spirit into the right understanding of his own truth. When he arose from his supplication, he took the Greek Testament and sat himself down to read the six first chapters of the epistle to the Romans, sincerely desirous to be taught of God, and to receive, in the simplicity of a child, the word of his revelation; when, to his unspeakable comfort and astonishment, his difficulties vanished;--a most clear and satisfactory light was given him into this great subject;-He saw the doctrine of justification by Jesus Christ alone, through faith, to be the great subject of the gospel-the highest display of the divine perfections ;-the happiest relief for his burdened conscience;-and the most powerful principle of all constant and unfeigned holiness of heart and life. He was rejoiced exceedingly; found peace and comfort springing up in his mind; his conscience was purged from guilt, through the atoning blood of Christ, and his heart set at liberty to run the way of God's commandments without fear, in a spirit of filial love and holy delight; and from that hour he began to preach salvation through faith in Jesus Christ

and recover the divine favour? Our author was lost here.The means which he had tried were ineffectual. His own soul and his people's were at stake; and till this great difficulty was solved, it is no wonder that his mind could find no rest. Whoever consults the Scriptures will find, that there is nothing new in such circumstances. Psalms vi.-xxxii. —lxxvii.—cxxx.-with many other parts, will show a similar situation of things in the minds of the true servants of God in those times, nor has it been otherwise in any age of the church; and we may venture to assert, that this madness, (if such it be called,) is far wiser than the wisdom of the world.

alone, to man by nature and practice lost, and condemned under the law, and, as his own expression is, Always a sinner*.

His sermons, though before animated by an honest zeal, were no longer mere lectures of morality, or filled only with legal condemnation. While all godliness in principle and practice was duly enforced, the enlivening display of that glorious Saviour, whose worth and excellence he had now tasted, and who was become all his salvation and all his desire, seasoned every discourse.

Those excellent and searching lectures on the Church catechism†, which have met with the general approbation of good men, and have passed through several editions, and which discover, in so eminent a manner, the able divine and the experienced Christian, were the early fruit of this alteration in his views of Christianity. A happy evidence of the great benefit which he had hereby received, and of his earnest zeal and ability to communicate it for the advantage of others.

About the time that this change took place, he stumbled, (to use his own expression in the case,) on some of the writings of that famous champion of the reformation, Martin Luther. If he had seen these in his former state, when he was well contented with his own righteousness, we may justly suppose he would at once have rejected them with the utmost disdain

* In gratitude to God for his great mercy in opening his eyes, as well as to assist such of his fellow-creatures as might be in his case, he afterwards, in the year 1771, published a paraphrase of the eleven first chapters of the Epistle to the Romans, (in which all the doctrinal part is contained,) where the reader will find the whole scheme of our redemption laid open in a most clear and masterly manner, with many excellent improvements and observations.

↑ The Catechism of the Church of England.

and abhorrence, as the very quintessence of Antinomianism; and however he might reverence St. Paul, as being an inspired Apostle, would have made no hesitation to have spurned them from him, as contrary to the gospel of Christ, and subversive of all true godliness. This many, doubtless, have done through want of the same divine teaching respecting their real state, of which Mr. Adam was now happily become the subject. But his mind being now brought down, and, by the discipline of the law convincing him deeply of his sinfulness, even in his best state, he was so far from being offended at the boldness of expression* and freedom of sentiment which he there met with, that he perceived them to be the very thing which his soul wanted, and the doctrine of St. Paul,

*It will readily be allowed, that there are in the writings of Martin Luther some expressions, which seem to savour of Antinomianism, and from which imputation it would be very difficult to defend them against a critical scrutiny :-But that they were never meant in that light is evident, not only from their admitting of a very different sense when candidly considered with their context, but from Luther's writings against the Anabaptists of his times on this very account.

The genius and temper of the writer must be considered, as well as the age in which he lived, and the fundamental errors which he combatted. He was a plain blunt man, and had an aversion to those softenings which are so fashionable in the present day, and thought they would injure the force of what he said, and make it less pointed against those errors which he had it in his heart to demolish. And although such bold strokes may give offence to those that feel nothing of his real want of a Saviour; yet they that know the urgency of their case like Mr. Adam, will find them the only remedy that can reach their disorder. And while the cold enervated exactness of the wise and prudent affords them no relief, this will be a balm to their wounded consciences, and the richest cordial to their fainting souls. And may we not add, that the divine blessing which has in all ages attended Luther's works, is no inconsiderable argument in favour of their truth and soundness?

and that however many may affect to admire the one, who yet at the same time reject and make light of the other, they must, in reality, stand or fall together; since they both speak one and the same thing, and all the objections which are prudentially brought against the reformer, lie equally, in all their force, against the inspired Apostle also, and against the doctrine which he so strenuously inculcates.

This celebrated writer, therefore, was always his peculiar favourite, and often would he, with much thankfulness to God, and gratitude of heart, acknowledge to his friends the singular help which he found from his writings, particularly from his excellent comment on the epistle to the Galatians, highly recommending it to their serious perusal, for its admirable use, and truly evangelical doctrine.

In this blessed and happy faith of the gospel he went on from this time to the very end of his days, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things, by his truly Christian life and conversation. Nor did increasing years, experience, and reading, give him any ground to alter the opinion which he had now espoused, or to depart from it in any degree; but, on the contrary, he was daily confirmed more and more both in the truth, and in the necessity of these doctrines, while he found them, in sickness and in health, a sovereign cordial to his heart, and the alone, but all-sufficient support of his soul. This testimony he fully bore to them in his last illness, frequently repeating to his friends around him, I find my foundation able to bear

me.

His departure was full of that serenity and peace which arise from a true acquaintance with Christ and his salvation. His body, worn out with the repeated attacks of his disorder, and with increasing years and