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which can be justly called the love of God, and cannot be said to be actuated by any specific and prevailing desire of pleasing him, or of living to his glory!

It is, however, from considerations and comparisons such as these, that the nature and importance of the change which took place at this period in the character of Mr. Buchanan must be determined. It was initial, indeed, but it was radical; it was imperfect in degree, but universal as to its objects and influence. It not only redeemed him from a sinful and worldly course, but gradually introduced him to a state of "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy "Ghost." It rendered him, in short, " a new creature." He felt the powerful influence of the love of Christ; and cordially acquiescing in the unanswerable reasoning of the great Apostle, that if one died for all, then were all "dead," he resolved no longer to live unto himself, “but "unto Him that died for him, and rose again."

Such was the change, which by the effectual grace of God was produced in the subject of these Memoirs; and such will be found to have been its practical results in his subsequent life and conduct. To the developement, therefore, of these, as affording its most satisfactory vindication and illustration, let us next proceed.

d 2 Cor. v. 14—16.

CHAPTER II. '

ABOUT a fortnight after the date of his first letter, Mr. Buchanan again wrote to Mr. Newton, for the purpose of communicating to him a strong inclination, which he had lately felt, to revert to the profession for which he was originally designed.

"Yesterday morning," he observes, "I went to hear Dr. "S. Near the conclusion of the service, I was insensibly "led to admire this passage of the prophet Isaiah, How "beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of "peace! It occurred to me, that that enviable office was "once designed for me; that I was called to the ministry, "as it were, from my infancy. For my pious grandfather "chose me from among my mother's children to live with

himself. He adopted me as his own child, and took great "pleasure in forming my young mind to the love of God. "He warmly encouraged my parents' design of bringing me "up to the ministry. I particularly recollect the last me"morable occasion of my seeing this good grandfather. "The first season of my being at college, I paid him

a visit. He lived but five miles from Glasgow. After "asking me some particulars relating to my studies, he "put the following question to me; What end I had in "view in becoming a minister of the Gospel?' I hesitated "a moment, thinking, I suppose, of some temporal blessing. "But he put an answer into my mouth. With a view, no

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"doubt,' said he, to the glory of God.' I recollect no "other particular of the conversation but this. It made a "strong impression on my mind, and even often recurred to "my thoughts in the midst of my unhappy years; and last"ly I thought of my present profession and prospect in life. "It suddenly came into my mind, that I might yet be a "preacher of the Gospel. I began to consider the obsta"cles that had hitherto deterred me from attempting it: "but they appeared to have vanished.

"These things passed rapidly through my mind. I won"dered that I had not thought of them before. Your sug"gestion occurred to me, and I seemed clearly to perceive "the hand of Providence in my not having been articled to "the law. I now beheld it as an unkindly and unprofitable "study, a profession I never cordially liked, and was thank"ful that I might shake it off when I pleased. These re“flections filled me with delight, and as I walked home, the "sensation increased; so that by the time I entered my "chamber, my spirits were overpowered, and I fell on my "knees before God, and wept. What shall I say to these "things? At first I feared this change of sentiment might "be some idle whim that would soon vanish. But when I "began to deliberate calmly, reason pleaded that the plan "was possible; and the wisdom and power of God, and my "love to him, pleaded that it was probable. I thought that "I, who had experienced so much of the divine mercy, was "peculiarly engaged to declare it to others. After fervent "prayer, I endeavoured to commit myself and my services "into the hands of Him who alone is able to direct me.

“This day I still cherish the idea with delight. But I am “much discouraged when I reflect on my weak abilities, "my slender knowledge, my defective expression, and my "advanced age. I am now four and twenty; and if I pro"secute this new desire, I must return to the studies of "fourteen."

At the close of this letter, Mr. Buchanan expresses the lively interest with which he had read Mr. Newton's narrative of his own life. "I am the person," he says, "out of "ten thousand, who can read it aright; for I can read it "with self-application. What a balm to a wounded con"science are your healing leaves! To-day I have felt a. "tranquillity of mind to which I have been long a stranger. "I trust this peace has a right foundation."

It appears that upon an early interview with Mr. Newton, in consequence of the preceding letter, he warmly approved the rising disposition of his young friend to change his profession, and to devote himself to the ministry of the Gospel.

"He received me," says Mr. Buchanan, "with open "arms, and in his family worship remembered me in a "very affecting manner, and prayed for the divine direction

in his counsels to me. We then passed a considerable "time together. He observed, that this was a remarkable "season with me; but that I must leave every thing with "God; that I must use the means which he had appointed "for those who aspire to his service; that I must devote the "principal part of my leisure hours to meditation and pray"er, and the remainder to the study of the languages; that "I must persevere in this course for a considerable time; "and then, if it pleased God, he would open a door to me. "In the mean time," added Mr. Newton, "I would advise "you to acquaint your mother with every circumstance of "your situation, and to request, in the first instance, her ❝advice and approbation."

To this suggestion Mr. Buchanan yielded without hesitation; and employed a great part of several nights in communicating to his affectionate parent an ingenuous narrative of his proceedings from the period of his departure from Scotland to the present time. At the close of this varied history, in which he strongly condemns himself for his past misconduct, he thus expresses himself.

"And now, my dear mother, how are you affected by this "account? Is your heart ready to welcome the return of "your long lost son, or does it reject with just indignation so "much unworthiness? Whatever may be your emotions, I "pray God, who has been so gracious to me, to bless this "dispensation to you. The veil which was between us is at "length rent, and I am now in peace; for believe me I have "not enjoyed a day of peace since I left my father's house. "I once thought I would rather suffer torture than betray "my secret; but my sinews of iron' are now become like ❝those of a child. Nothing less than what I have suffered "could have softened so hard a heart as mine; and not even "that, unless accompanied by the power of God."

Mr. Buchanan had no sooner made this disclosure to his excellent mother, than he communicated the result to Mr. Newton in a letter, which closes in the following terms.

"My desires of returning to my first pursuit, the minis"try, still continue, and I think increase. Blackstone says "somewhere, that to have a competent knowledge of the

law requires the lucubrations of twenty years.' I once ▾ "had the low ambition of being such a lawyer. But I am "now so impressed with the dignity and importance of the "office of the ministry, that I would with pleasure sit down "to-morrow, and devote, not the lucubrations of twenty

years alone, but all my life to it. But, alas! my present "situation militates much against my wishes. O that He, "who has led me thus far, would graciously direct my "steps!"

During the three months which followed the date of this letter, Mr. Buchanan continued his employment in the law; diligently and devoutly cultivating the spirit of real religion, and anxiously revolving in his mind the practicability of accomplishing his wishes respecting the change of his profession. In the month of July, however, he addressed another letter to Mr. Newton, who was then absent from London, in which he laments, with much humility and feeling, the painful discoveries which he had been making in selfknowledge, and the slowness of his progress in his Christian course. "I have but sipped," he modestly observes, "at "Salem's spring-Nec fonte labra prolui." He then informs his kind correspondent and friend, that his late letters from Scotland had afforded him much comfort. "My mother," he says, "writes thus.

"The hint you gave me in your last of your probably "joining the Church of England, caused me at first some ❝ uneasiness. I hope you will forgive this. I find now that "the difference between the two churches consists in disci"pline only, not in doctrine. I am therefore easy in mind, ❝ whichever way the providence of God may see fit to guide "you. I am happy that you consulted your Bible, and "sought the Lord's direction upon this occasion. If you "cast your burden upon him, he will direct you aright. "Since you were a boy, it was impressed upon my mind "some time or other you would be a good man. I own of

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