Amongst the various notices of his feelings and engagements, which occur in these memoranda, there are several, which prove that, amidst the incessant labour of an employment, which occupied nearly twelve hours of each day, Mr. Buchanan occasionally contrived to devote a part of his scanty leisure to literary pursuits. Unhappily, indeed, he was at this period so little under the influence of religion, that the Sabbath was too often spent in the study of Virgil and Horace; though at other times his reading on that sacred day appears to have been of a graver nature. But the later hours of his evenings, which were not dedicated to amusement, seem to have been laudably employed in storing his mind with classical and general knowledge, and occasionally in improving his memory by artificial rules and praetice.

Though the irreligious state, in which Mr. Buchanan was at this time living, led him too generally to neglect public worship, his early habits still induced him sometimes to enter the house of God. Upon one of these occasions he appears to have been much struck with the conduct of a young friend, who was so deeply alarmed while the preacher was displaying the terrors of the Lord in the future punishment of the wicked, that he rose up, leaving his hat behind him, and walked out of the church. It is understood that Mr. Buchanan considered this person as having been afterwards made spiritually useful to him.

Two short notes in the summer of the year 1789 indicate, that there were, even at that period, seasons in which he thought much and seriously upon his own state, and upon religious subjects; during which his reflections were sometimes gloomy and desponding, and resembling "the sighing "of the prisoner" for deliverance; and at others cheered. by a faint and distant hope of one day enjoying, through the infinite grace of God, the comforts of religion.

In the following year some traces occur, in the brief journal from which the preceding circumstances are extracted, of pious feeling in his mind. He notices a religious conversation with a friend, and adds, that he had in consequence

thought seriously of a reformation. He mentions emphatically of a season of private prayer, and his intention of purchasing a new Bible, when he could afford it; and while he confesses on one occasion, with evident regret, his disinclination to religion, and alleges as one of the immediate causes, or symptoms, of this evil, the indulgence of morning slumbers, he observes, on another, that he had declined the invitation of a friend to a visit in the country on the following Sunday, upon religious principle, though he did not at the moment distinctly avow it. All these are circumstances indicative of a mind awaking from the deadly sleep of sin to the life of righteousness, and introductory to that important change of sentiment and conduct which was now approaching.

It is possible, indeed, that some may be at a loss to understand the meaning of this language, or to conceive the necessity of any other alteration in the religious character of Mr. Buchanan, than the correction of a few venial errors and trifling irregularities, or the supply of certain obvious omissions in his conduct. The determination of this question must undoubtedly depend upon the general views of those who consider it. In proportion as the standard of practical religion is either elevated or depressed, will be the judgment of every one as to the actual state, at this period of his life, of the subject of these Memoirs. If slight views are entertained of the evil of sin, of the guilt, misery, and danger of a sensual and worldly life, and of the nature and extent of Christian faith and holiness, the moral and religious deficiencies of Mr. Buchanan will certainly appear trivial and unimportant. But if, as the Scriptures unequivocally assert, to live in the habitual neglect of Almighty God, though a formal acknowledgment of his being and attributes may be professed, is virtual impiety; to avow the name of Christian, but to refuse the homage of the heart to Jesus Christ as a Saviour, is real unbelief; and occasionally to indulge in wilful sin, though the external manners may be decent and correct, is practical ungodliness; then was it evidently necessary, that a great and radical change should

be effected in Mr. Buchanan's dispositions and conduct; then was it essential to his present and future happiness, that he should "repent and believe the Gospel."

Some gross

That this was the conviction of Mr. Buchanan himself, unquestionably the most competent judge of this interesting subject, plainly appears from his own declarations in the letters from which some preceding extracts have been made. "Since my coming to London," he observes, until June "last, I led a very dissipated, irreligious life. "sins I avoided; but pride was in my heart; I profaned the "Lord's day without restraint, and never thought of any re"ligious duty. Thus I lived till within these few months; "exactly three years since my voluntary banishment from "my native country; three tedious years! and for any thing "I could have done myself, I might have remained in the "same state for thirty years longer. But the period was "now arrived, when the mercy of God, which had always "accompanied me, was to be manifested in a singular man❝ner. I had a very strong sense of religion when I was "about the age of fourteen; and I used often to reflect on "that period: but I had not, I believe, the least idea of the "nature of the Gospel. It was in the year 1790 that my "heart was first effectually impressed, in consequence of an “acquaintance with a religious young man."

Of the person thus briefly mentioned, and of the important effects which resulted from one remarkable meeting with him, the following is a more distinct and detailed account.

"In the month of June last," observes Mr. Buchanan, writing in February 1791, " on a Sunday evening, a gentle"man of my acquaintance called upon me. I knew him to "be a serious young man, and out of complaisance to him I "gave the conversation a religious turn. Among other things, I asked him, whether he believed that there was ~ "such a thing as divine grace; whether or not it was a fic❝tion imposed by grave and austere persons from their own

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fancies. He took occasion from this enquiry to enlarge "much upon the subject; he spoke with zeal and earnest"ness, and chiefly in Scripture language, and concluded

"with a very affecting address to the conscience and the "heart. I had not the least desire, that I recollect, of be"ing benefited by this conversation; but while he spoke, I "listened to him with earnestness; and before I was aware, "a most powerful impression was made upon my mind, and "I conceived the instant resolution of reforming my life. "On that evening I had an engagement which I could not "now approve: notwithstanding what had passed, however, "I resolved to go; but as I went along, and had time to re"flect on what I had heard, I half wished that it might not "be kept. It turned out as I desired: I hurried home, and "locked myself up in my chamber; I fell on my knees, and "endeavoured to pray; but I could not. I tried again, but "I was not able; I thought it was an insult to God for me "to pray; I reflected on my past sins with horror, and spent the night I know not how. The next day my fears wore "off a little, but they soon returned. I anxiously awaited "the arrival of Sunday; but when it came, I found no re"lief. After some time, I communicated my situation to my "religious friend: he prayed with me, and next Sunday I "went with him to hear an eminent minister. This was a "great relief to me; I thought I had found a physician: "but, alas! though I prayed often every day, and often at "night, listlessness and languor seized me. Sometimes, "hope, sometimes fear presented itself, and I became very "uncomfortable. Going one morning to a bath, I found on "a shelf Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the "Soul. This book I thought just suited me. I accordingly "read it with deep attention, and prayed over it. I next "procured Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted, and dwelt "on it for some time. My religious friend then gave me "Boston's Fourfold State. This I read carefully, and I "hope it did me some good. I now secluded myself entire"ly from my companions on Sunday; and during the week, "the moment business was done, I went home to my stu“dies; and have since wholly withdrawn myself from plea“sure and amusement. In this manner have I passed the "seven last months, continually praying for a new heart,

and a more perfect discovery of my sins. Sometimes I "think I am advancing a little, at others I fear I am farther "from heaven than ever. O the prevalence of habit! It is "not without reason that it has been sometimes called a se"cond nature. Nothing but the hand of the Almighty who "created me can change my heart.

6

"About two months ago I wrote my mother some particu"lars of my state, and requested her prayers, for she is a "pious woman. In her answer, written by my sister, is the "following passage, My mother has heard much of Mr. "Newton, Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth, London, and wish- › "es that you would cultivate an acquaintance with him, if "it is in your power.""

It was, in fact, to this venerable man, that the letter, from which these as well as some preceding extracts have been made, was addressed. Nor must the occasion be omitted of paying a passing tribute of respect to the memory of that eminently pious and useful minister of Jesus Christ. The chosen and highly valued friend of Cowper could not indeed have been a common or uninteresting character. He was, in truth, far otherwise. However a world, incapable of appreciating spiritual excellence, may be disposed to treat his faith as a delusion, and his character as enthusiastic, the history of Mr. Newton will convince the candid enquirer, that the Gospel is still the power of God" to the conversion and salvation even of the chief of sinners; while the unblemished purity, the active benevolence, the exemplary fidelity, and the undeviating consistency of a course of more than forty years, sufficiently illustrate the holy and practical tendency of the doctrines which he had embraced; and prove that the grace which had brought peace to his conscience, and hope to his soul, had at the same time effectually taught him "to live soberly, righteously, and godly in "the world."

The lively and substantial interest which Mr. Newton took in the situation and welfare of Mr. Buchanan, is one amongst many other instances of the Christian kindness which habitually warmed his heart. The person who was thus