tivity, but only translated to a noble sphere, where his expanded powers may find higher exercise. "Oh then, from all of earthly taint made free, And ceaseless hymn the great Creator's praise." From the preceding sketch, the reader will be in some measure prepared to form an estimate of Mr Morren's character. Like us all, he had his peculiar infirmities. He sometimes manifested a degree of sensitiveness―verging, perhaps, at times, to irritability; and in the heat of controversy, his ardour occasionally betrayed him into the use of expressions which might have been spared. He had no hypocrisy about him. If he felt contempt either for the arguments or the conduct of his opponents, he did not conceal it. His quiver was stored with the arrows of satire; and when tempted, as he sometimes was, to use them, he generally drew a sharp one-sometimes it was barbed. But, on the other hand, it would not be easy to over-estimate his worth. His intellect was of a high order-acute, active, and at the same time comprehensive; its minute accuracy was remarkable, while its range was extensive. He possessed a memory peculiarly retentive. As a scholar, his attainments were large and profound; as a minister of the gospel, he was pains-taking and devoted; and as a friend, warmhearted and faithful. His conversation was always 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." A little after, we find him again engaged in this salutary exercise of self-examination, and lamenting his short-comings and errors. "Alas, how frail a creature is man! All his resolutions seem to be made only to be broken.....I have felt an extreme languor and inaptitude for all religious duties. Rapid indeed is the progress of sin. ... Blessed be God that he has arrested me in time. Let past experience teach me that it is an evil and a bitter thing to forsake the Lord my God-that without his grace I can do nothing, and that, estranged from him, I can find no solid enjoyment upon earth. My besetting sin seems at present to be an inordinate fondness for unholy learning, to the neglect of my dearest interests. Oh that I were more earnest after that heavenly wisdom which it is the Spirit's work to teach!" In compliance with the wishes of his friends, and yielding to circumstances which he could not well control, he relinquished his purpose of studying at Geneva; and, after visiting Paris for a few months, having completed his engagement in Caen, he returned to Aberdeen in September 1818, and that same year was enrolled a student in the Theological Hall. At the conclusion of his first session he visited Edinburgh, where he experienced the kind attentions of the late Rev. Dr Davidson, to whom Dr Dewar of Aberdeen had furnished him with an introduction; and having, through the influence of the former, been engaged as tutor in a family in Galloway, he spent the months of the summer vacation there. With the exception of these few months, the whole period of his divinity course was spent in Aberdeen-his leisure hours being devoted to the teaching of the modern languages. As a student of divinity, he was distinguished not more for ability and diligence than for singleness of purpose, and untiring zeal in prosecuting any object which, in his opinion, tended to promote his Saviour's cause; and opposition, when offered, served only to nerve his zeal. Sabbath-school and Bible and Missionary societies received his cordial support; and as his acknowledged talents and noted accomplishments, and high moral character, secured for him an influence among his compeers, his example and his counsel produced a marked, and, we believe, abiding effect in the Hall. Many a pleasing, though now melancholy remembrance is still cherished of his early indications of future eminence, and many a testimony is borne to his moral worth and intellectual power, by old companions -some of whom are now arranged under a banner, which his distinct and most conscientious convictions forbade him ever to acknowledge. Such testimonies are now before the writer of this brief memoir, which, did circumstances permit, he would most gladly quote, as not more honourable to the memory of his friend, than to the character of those who refuse to allow the prejudice of party, and the remembrance of unflinching though candid opposition, to obliterate their admiration of departed worth. His theological studies being completed, Mr Morren was licensed as a preacher of the gospel by the presbytery of Aberdeen in the month of October 1822, and having, a few months thereafter, received a call to the West Chapel of Greenock, he was, on the 20th June 1823, ordained to that charge. Few have entered on the sacred office with a deeper convic |