God of truth. I desire to depart, and to be with Christ." It was added, "Yes-and I will see his face, and I will behold his glory-glory, glory, glory! Come, come away-I hear his voice-let me go. Thanks, thanks be to God who giveth us the victory-thanks to God for his unspeakable gift." He enjoyed hymns sung to him— especially that one-" Children of the Heavenly King," -and audibly joined, shortly before he died, as the last line of each verse was sung. It thus concludes,—

"Lord, obediently we'll go,

Gladly leaving all below;
Only Thou our leader be,
And we still will follow Thee."

Then taking up the idea, he gave his last words to his family as they stood around his bed, "Children of the light and not of the darkness, walk as children of the light-children of the light-children of the light."

Thus died the father of the Free Church of Scotland, and devout men buried him near the spot where "he had preached the glad tidings of the resurrection and the life twenty years before." He has left a son in the ministry in Dundee—successor to Mr. M'Cheyne; another a devoted missionary in China, whom the Lord has greatly blessed in the saving of souls, both at home and abroad; and honoured to translate "The Pilgrim's Progress" into the language of 400,000,000 of people. He left two of his daughters in the manses of the Free Church as ministers' wives, and his widow, after fifty years of happy union with him, still remains. He has left besides the fragrant memory of a beautiful example of earnest, unctional, and successful ministry—which, perpetuated by the biography just given to the Church,

may teach us, and many more to come, what ought to be the single aim, the simple faith, the unceasing prayer, the untiring industry, and the anxious expectation of a minister of Christ. "The first teachers of Christianity," ne remarked in a valuable lecture on Revivals, "had no devices, but those of plain truth, and strong faith, and humble boldness, and fervent love; and the giving themselves to prayer and the preaching of the word. Let it be said of us as of them,—'We believe, and therefore speak; we feel, and therefore persuade; we desire to do nothing against but for the truth, that God in all things. may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory now and for ever."

"Sweet was the journey to the sky

The holy prophet tried ;

'Climb up the mount,' said God, 'and die.'

The prophet climbed, and died.

Softly, with fainting head, he lay

Upon his Maker's breast;

His Maker soothed his soul away,

And laid his flesh to rest."

XVII.

THE REV. JAMES ALLAN, M.A.,

PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL.

MIDST the animosities which ecclesiastical controversies occasion, there is generally a spiritual

awakening of souls. Periods of polemic strife have often been eras of religious revival. Many were savingly led to the Divine Redeemer in the great Arian controversy, when the truths respecting His Godhead were discussed. The Reformation of the sixteenth century was more than a protest against Rome; it was the birth-time of souls. The Puritan age was more than dissent; it was revival. In like manner the ecclesiastical conflict which terminated in the Disruption of the Church of Scotland was marked by other signs than disputed settlements: there were spiritual awakenings. Many were led to inquire after salvation, and new life to God was the result of party strife. The subject of this sketch was a spiritual fruit of the ten years' conflict. Though at first a spectator from the platform of another communion altogether, he mixed in the arena in a struggle for the deliverance of his soul.

JAMES ALLAN was born at Huntly, Aberdeenshire, about the end of the first quarter of this century. His father belonged to the Scotch Episcopal Church, in which

he was also brought up. His mother, we believe, was pious, and attended the ministry of the Rev. John Hill, of the Congregational Church-a devoted servant of Christ. James Allan, however, grew up a careless and thoughtless lad. During the period of the suspension of the recusant Presbytery of Strathbogie, ministers from other parts were sent to preach in the parishes. At Huntly James Allan attended their ministry, and was awakened to spiritual concern. He had little interest in the conflict which occasioned the unusual action of the Church at that time, but curiosity led him to mingle with the auditory who listened to some of the most eloquent and evangelical ministers from the chief towns-and in his case it was a time of mercy-when he was convicted of sin and led to the Saviour. His convictions were very deep, and his spiritual struggle hard, but his faith became correspondingly strong, and his devotion fervent. Of a melancholy constitution, he was frequently subject to depression and walked in darkness; but he soared higher than most in devout contemplation, and realized more of the love of Christ in his soul.

After his conversion his thoughts were directed to the Christian ministry. His preliminary education had been scanty, but he applied himself to his studies with great ardour, even beyond a legitimate stretch, and gained a bursary at the University and King's College, Aberdeen, in the year 1843. The writer matriculated in the same year, and was a class-fellow of Mr. Allan. At that time he was known to be thoroughly decided and peculiar. His constitutional eccentricities added no doubt to his peculiarities. He was an earnest student, and conscientiously faithful to the duties of his classes, but his un

timeous hours and intense application told seriously on his bodily frame. He graduated M.A. in 1847, and after the usual preparatory examination by the Presbytery, became a student of divinity, first at Aberdeen and then at Edinburgh, in connection with the Free Church. When his course was ended he was licensed to preach the gospel. His uncertain health interrupted his progress considerably, and it was some time before he was able to enter on the full probationary work of the pulpit. He laboured at first in Aberdeenshire, then went to Canada. The climate of the latter was too severe for him, and he returned to Scotland. He resided for a short period at Rothesay, and was sufficiently recruited to take an appointment to preach at Hillhead, a new station near Glasgow, in 1854. It was here that his character was fully disclosed, and his labours crowned with spiritual blessing.

One who was much with him then, and had ample opportunity of observing his piety and ministerial fidelity, has thus written of him: : "I remember when Mr. Allan first came to Hillhead. It could easily be seen that he was the man suited for such a place. His tall form, with grave countenance, added much to that impression. His first appearance was on a prayer-meeting night in the school-room; his address was simple and telling, and one could easily see that his anxiety to win souls that very night was intense. And he was not disappointed, for there are not a few who can date their first impression from that night."

He at once began his work, and organized district visitors, on Dr. Chalmers's plan, to go from house to house and invite the people to church. He had fifteen such