appointment was considerable when circumstances rendered it necessary that his departure for the Continent should be, for some time, deferred. In the meantime he accepted the situation of private tutor in a family in the neighbourhood of Fort George, devoting his leisure hours to the diligent study of the French and German languages, in order the better to qualify himself for the duties which he had now in prospect. It is believed that, while occupying this situation, his mind received its first saving impression of divine things. For a time he appears to have been subject to doubts and fears-spiritual darkness seems to have brooded over his soul;-but ere long his difficulties were overcome, the light of Heaven burst through the gathering clouds, and the shadows of a dismal night were dispersed. The immediate causes of this gracious effect we have not means of ascertaining; but it would seem that his temporary disappointment was, under Divine Providence, the occasion of placing him amidst influences which were destined to become the hallowed instruments of opening his mind to a saving apprehension of the truth.

Mr Morren seems to have become greatly attached to the family who at that time enjoyed his services; and when at length the arrangements for his proceeding to the Continent were completed, he left them with deep regret. His disposition was amiable, his heart affectionate; and as mutual esteem had been the effect of his temporary sojourn with this worthy family, so mutual regret was experienced when the period of separation arrived. Alluding to this circumstance in a letter to his brother, written about this time, he says— "Our final parting will be a sore struggle for both

parties. Were I not engaged to Mr Lowe, I know not what consideration would prevail with me to leave this family: we are mutually happy and contented."

Early in the autumn of 1815 Mr Morren proceeded to the Continent, to commence his literary labours in Caen. His letters at this period are highly interesting at once indicating the devotional sentiment of the youthful Christian, and the affectionate warmth of the loving relation and friend, and exhibit those habits of observation, and that power of description, which he possessed in no ordinary degree;--the state of the country at this memorable period having enabled him to enrich, with topics of peculiar interest, a correspondence regularly maintained with his friends at home. His residence on the Continent extended till the autumn of 1818.

Although some of his friends, and particularly the gentleman in whose establishment he was employed, were anxious that he should devote himself to literature as a profession, he seems, during the whole time of his residence in Caen, to have steadily cherished the intention of prosecuting the study of theology with a view to the office of the ministry; and he was consequently peculiarly desirous, had circumstances permitted, to complete his studies at Geneva. "I begin," says he in a letter to his brother, October 1816,-"to think seriously of following out the study of theology, and should prefer doing it, if at all possible, at a foreign university. A course at Geneva is the great object of my ambition."

The desire to prosecute theological studies was not, in his case, with a view merely to qualify him for what he considered an eligible and honourable situation in life. His motives were of a higher kind. His cor

respondence at this time, as well as his own private memoranda, seems clearly to indicate a mind under the pervading influence of heavenly grace. He was a man of prayer; and with a like-minded companion he was wont to meet regularly for devotional exercises; nothing affording him more sincere delight, while sojourning in this foreign land, than to know that he and his dear relatives, though far apart, enjoyed the sacred privilege of meeting daily at the footstool of their Father's throne. Writing on the 27th May 1817, to a beloved sister, now long since departed, he thus expresses himself, in language which reveals at once his deep interest in her spiritual welfare and the peace in believing which he had himself attained: "Your letter of 26th March gave me great pleasure. Nothing can be

more agreeable to a friend than to witness the growth of religion in those who are the objects of his love; and of all the ties that connect us, this is surely the strongest―that we are children of the same Father, partakers of the same spiritual blessings, and jointheirs with the same Redeemer. Both of us, I trust, now know something of the happiness of those to whom the Lord imputeth not sin. Having been eased of our load of guilt, and its apprehended consequences, and visited by the day-spring from on high, we can now adopt the language of the poet :

"Darkness and doubt are now flying away,

No longer I roam in conjecture forlorn;
Thus breaks on the traveller, faint and astray,

The bright and the balmy effulgence of morn.'

The following extracts from a private memorandum, of date 7th April 1816, will be read with some interest, as indicating his views and feelings in the prospect of

devoting himself to the service of his Saviour as a clergyman:

"Although, since the days of the apostles, miraculous or supernatural calls to the ministry have ceased, yet there are certain qualifications and endowments which all who have a design of entering into that awfully responsible office, must in a greater or less degree possess. These are briefly, but correctly, enumerated in a letter from my worthy friend Mr G. His words are as follows:

"1. A mind deeply impressed with a sense of religion, or in other words, a mind devoted to God and to eternal things and such a mind is that of every genuine believer. 2. A predilection for the sacred office—a preference of it to every other function. 3. Mental endowments and intellectual talents of at least an ordinary nature.' To these might be added, A sincere desire to promote the glory of God and the good of souls-an earnest yet prudent zeal for the honour of the Saviour, and the extension of his kingdom upon earth.

"It becomes me, then, with prayer before God, seriously to examine what manner of spirit I am of— what are my leading views, desires, motives, in undertaking the sacred function. 1. Have I a deep sense of religion? Am I devoted to God and to eternal things? In fine, am I a genuine believer? At present I can only say with David 'Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant.' My sense of religion and of eternal things has been at various times deep and impressive. A thousand times have I devoted my whole life to God; and not unfrequently have I persuaded myself that I had the witness of the Spirit'

in myself, that I was a genuine believer.. 2. Have I a predilection to the sacred office? Yes; from my earliest youth-from the period at least when my thinking faculty began to unfold itself, it has been my uniform and constant desire to be a servant in the Lord's vineyard. And, at the present moment, not all the allurements of wealth, distinction, or literary honours, tend in the least to alter the original wish of my heart.

. . . If I know my own heart, my only moving principle is the good of my fellow-men. 3. Do I possess mental endowments and intellectual talents of at least an ordinary nature? Of this I can but little judge: my memory is tolerable- my judgment in general sound-my information considerable-my acquaintance with the doctrines of Christianity and with the Bible pretty intimate. But I have still much to learn; and for his teaching in this, as in all other things, I depend on the All-wise God.

"On this review of my experience, my desires, and my talents, (forbidding and unsatisfactory as is the result,) I think I may venture to enter at least on the course of study which our church prescribes as preparatory to the assumption of the pastoral office.

"O God! my Saviour and my King, thou knowest the determination I have ventured to take. ... Be pleased, Lord, to accept my poor services. I pray for thine assistance in my studies; for thy gracious presence and influence. Oh! may I be the means of bringing at least one soul to Jesus. This would be more than recompense, even were I deserving of it. Hear me, Lord, for the sake of that dear Saviour in whose cross I would alone desire to glory. Amen and Amen.-N. MORREN."