BEFORE the affair was brought into the fynod, Mr. Abernethy, who was always looked upon as at the head of the Nonfubfcribers, had, by his uncommon abilities, and as uncommon eminency as a chriftian, acquired a moft eftablished reputation. He was, indeed, efteemed by many to a degree, which could hardly be due to any man: This gave him great advantage in these controverfies; no man had more, or as much authority. The other members of the Belfast-fociety, as the Reader will form fome notion of their abilities, from what has been faid above, fo were men of unblameable lives; and indeed nothing, without remarkable purity of manners, would have fupported them against the torrent of prejudice, which they had, at first especially, to wrestle with; their side of the question was moft unpopular, and the clamor raised against them almost universal : And the reader will, without being particularly informed, readily imagine many perfonal inconveniencies which those, who apon fuch occafions are on the unpopular fide, muft fuffer. MR. MR. ABERNETHY had the greatest share, both in conducting the counfels of the Non-fubfcribers, and managing their public debates; and he, with fome others of that fociety, acquired extraordinary reputation for found judgment and eloquence. He was particularly distinguished by an evennefs and conftancy of temper, which nothing could ruffle or difcompofe: He was always himself, and free from thofe tumults and agitations of fpirit, which are often feen to deprive men of the use of very eminent abilities ; let the fpirit of ftrife and contention rage ever fo much in the fynod, he seemed to catch nothing of the infection: His mind always ready and clear in judging, and his utterance eafy and free: He has often spoken extempore for a long time together, in the greatest warmth of debate, with fuch pertinency, temper and fluency of expreffion, as, while it furprized the hearers, commanded their respect and attention. A great vivacity and quickness of apprehenfion, a perfect presence of mind, with a penetrating judgment, happily qualified him for the part he had to act in thefe affemblies, which was fo much the eafier 6 easier to him, that he had a clear, strong, and agreeable voice: If his caufe was difliked, the person that pleaded it with such advantage, could not but be admired; and, as he acted from a thorough persuasion of the righteousness and great importance of the cause of liberty, fo he proceeded in the defence of it, with a refolution and boldnefs which became one who had nothing but truth and right in his aim. THE truth is, he and his friends of the Belfast-fociety found themselves involved in great difficulties; many, who set themfelves to oppose them with violence, were men much, and juftly celebrated for learning and great piety; and, without doubt, acted from a principle of zeal for God: And, in affemblies conftituted as the fynod is, there will always be a confiderable part, which cannot enter deeply into the merits of fuch a cause, but will be fwayed by great names, and follow them in all their measures, especially when religion is apprehended to be at ftake, and the foundations of it undermined, which notion greatły prevailed upon this occafion amongst the lefs difcerning; fo that it is not to be wondered dered at, that the Non-fubfcribers were looked upon with great jealousy, and that prejudices, quitè invincible by reason, were laid in against all that they could fay. The populace, in moft places, conceived a great dislike to them and their miniftrations; and to this the authority of the fynod (however. fincere their aims and intentions might be, which I do not at all call in queftion) very much contributed. Popular reproaches fell as heavily upon Mr. Abernethy, as any man; and he was by many as much disliked and evil spoken of, as he had been formerly celebrated and admired; but fo did he conduct himself through the whole of this controversy, that, neither in the fynod, nor out of it, did he give his adverfaries any advantage against him, or the leaft occafion of enmity. His character for discretion, candor, and greatnefs of mind, amongst all that knew him, and could judge, he still maintained: And, for himself, it was enough to him, that he did juftice to his caufe and his own confcience; the personal inconveniencies which followed upon his attachment to the caufe of liberty, did not move him: And he can hardly appear to the reader in a more amiable light, than by VOL. I. imagining imagining him in a few years, from the moft admired character, and celebrated preacher in the north, become the object of jealousy and reproach, forfaken by a confiderable number, even of the people of his own congregation, and all the while preferving an equal temper, without doing any thing which spoke refentment against others, or disquietude in his own mind. AND his brethren of the Belfast-fociety, or prefbytry of Antrim (for having been formerly of different prefbytries, they were, by an act of the fynod, fome time before the rupture, joined together in one) had not only great fatisfaction in him as a member, but, when things came to a crifis, and fome minifters were like to fuffer deeply for being of this party, his prefence and converfation were a most powerful fupport to their minds; he did not only preferve an eafy cheerful spirit himself, but had a very peculiar faculty of infufing it into others and, as he always maintained an even temper, fo he was most patient of labour and application; not at all hafty in his spirit, or difcouraged from renewing his attempts by frequent difappointments; for, while things |