work with great diligence. He became much admired for his public performan

ces; and, as his heart was much fet upon the acquifition of knowledge, he was very industrious in reading. He was, indeed, the principal life of a fociety of ministers and candidates in thofe parts, who, from time to time met, to spend a day in ufeful converfation, and in communicating their studies; an excellent defign, and which was carried on for feveral years, not without confiderable fuccefs.

He was in great esteem with the gentlemen of the first rank in the neighbourhood. The vivacity of his fpirit, true wit, fo corrected, as to be perfectly confiftent with the gravity of his character; an exact purity of manners and good-breeding, recommended him to the beft company; and his abilities foon became the fubject of general obfervation to his brethren in the ministry. It may be truly faid, that in the general fynod, which is a very large affociation, there was no one more, or as much. taken notice of. The greateft refpect was paid him from his first appearances, as a perfon not only of very uncommon genius,

but of admirable wifdom and difcretion, of perfect candor and great modefty. He foon became one of those, upon whom the fynod moft depended in the management of public affairs, and had a very large share in it. As a fpeaker, he was confidered as their greatest ornament: And it is very well known, that he maintained his character and esteem in these refpects, through the whole of that tedious courfe of debates, which afterwards fell in upon the point of christian liberty, even with those, who were the fierceft antagonists to the cause he espoused.

WHEN he had been nine years in Antrim, he received a call from the diffenting congregation in Derry, who with great earnestnefs follicited his removal thither. He was, indeed, fo generally admired, that it was natural, the most confiderable congregations should turn their eyes on him, in case of a vacancy: But this attempt was without fuccefs. He thought himself very happy in his fituation at Antrim, and that the great ends of his ministry might be ferved as effectually there as any where else. He loved his people, and had a pleafing pro

spect

fpect of fuccefs among them. The general fynod, when this matter was debated before them, determined his continuance at Antrim.

SOON after this, in the year 1712, his wife, by whom he had a fon and three daughters, died, which made a very deep and lasting impreffion upon his mind: Hę loved her with the greatest tenderness; and, though he bore up under his grief with all poffible decency, yet there were plain appearances that it was exceedingly intense. For a confiderable time afterwards he chofe retirement from the world, as much as it was confiftent with the business of his ftation. But whatever he suffered upon this occafion, it was abundantly compensated, by his apparent growth in knowledge and all virtuous improvements, the best proof, that he knew how to receive affliction, and, make the proper use of it.

He has left behind him a diary of his life, which begins February, 1712-13; it makes fix large volumes in quarto, very small writing, and very clofe: It is indeed an amazing work; the temper of his mind all

along

along represented with much exactness; the various events he met with, his reflections upon them, and his improvements of them: The whole bearing fuch characters of a reverence, and awe of the divine presence upon his mind, of fimplicity and fincerity of fpirit, and the most careful difcipline of the heart, that, how great foever his reputation in the world was, it fhews its real worth rather exceeded it.

THIS diary begins with a review of his past life, even from childhood, and a very careful examination of the prefent moral ftate of his mind; which takes up many pages, and is too long to be here inferted. But it discovers a fpirit thoroughly fenfible of the importance of religion, fully convinced of the truth and divine authority of the religion of Christ, and in calling himfelf to an account, not only impartial but fevere. He fearches narrowly into his own defects, and writes like one that wrote only for himself, laying open the inmost of his heart. Then he confiders the true defign of christianity by the knowledge of which we are helped to a right understanding of the terms of our acceptance with God. He

obferves

observes that the very effence of faith by which chriftians are juftified, confifts in a full confent of foul to the gofpel, as containing the will of God for our falvation; and in pursuance of that, a chearful and unreserved fubmiffion to the laws of it; the tendency of all which is to purify the heart and life, to deliver men from the spirit of this world, that is, from pride, covetoufnefs and all corrupt defire; to prepare them for the love of God, refignation to him, confidence and delight in him; and for the performance of all good offices to others with undiffembled charity. He obferves that the gospel is admirably adapted to anfwer thefe ends, not only by the excellency of its laws, but by the love and mercy of God to mankind, and the love of our Saviour, declared in it; by the promises of all neceffary divine aid, and of a happy immortality. Then he reprefents his own fentiments and temper with refpect to all these things, and towards the conclufion goes on thus; "I have, after calling upon "God, reviewed all that I have written upon this inquiry; I dare fay, in his

fight, that my foul approves the design "of the gofpel, and heartily concurs with

‹ it.