Auchinleck, or his son of Kilwinning, we have not been able to ascertain. The probability is, that it was the former, as in those days, for the most part, it was customary to appoint one of the older members of the Presbytery to preside on such occasions, and as the latter had been only a few months settled before Mr. Stevenson. Looking at those ministers who did officiate at his ordination, we are assured, there were none belonging to the Presbytery, who could have been selected, more in accordance with his mind, or congenial to his feelings. With all of them, so long as they lived, he held the most intimate and pleasant intercourse, and from them we have no doubt, on account of their knowledge, learning, and experience, he derived no small measure of profit. It would be out of place here to attempt to give a description of their character. Some of them we may have occasion to refer to afterwards, not only as connected with Mr. Stevenson as ministers or co-Presbyters, but particularly as being associated together in witnessing and contending for the Covenanted Reformation. Meantime, there are a few cursory observations bearing upon two of them— viz. Messrs. Robertson and Paxton, which we cannot refrain here from mentioning, and that all the more, as they serve to elucidate Mr. Stevenson's character. It was well known to all who were acquainted with him, that there was nothing for which Dr. Stevenson was more distinguished, than his tender, warm-hearted, and winning disposition, on the one hand, and on the other, his ardent affection for and attachment to his friends. These sentiments constituted a power in him, and a power which could not easily be repressed or withstood. So strong were they even in his boyhood, that it is said, while he strove only once with a companion at school, he used his open hand in the conflict, that he might not seriously injure his opponent. They soon found room for exercise, not only in the ordinary walks of life, but among his brethren in the Presbytery. Even the somewhat rough and rugged external demeanour of worthy Mr. Robertson, of Kilmarnock, was compelled sometimes to yield to his blandness and gentleness, while we have a beautiful illustration of the activity and strength of his benevolent affections, in the case of Professor Paxton, when the Professor was lying dangerously ill at Kilmaurs.

It appears that no sooner had Mr. Stevenson become a member of the Presbytery, than he became a great favourite with Mr. Robertson. His modesty, humility, and genuine moral worth, not to speak of his abilities and studious habits, would doubtless attract the attention of the old man, and lead him to regard him with peculiar esteem. But whatever the cause, it is certain that even at an early period of his ministry, Mr. Stevenson could exert an influence over Mr. Robertson which few of the other members of Presbytery could do. We have heard several

instances illustrative of this fact, but shall only adduce the following: -It happened on one occasion, about the beginning of the present century, when Mr. Robertson was assisting Mr. Stevenson in the dispensation of the Lord's Supper, as indeed he generally did, that he fell into what was called one of his high moods, and became excited i no ordinary degree. The cause of the excitement is said to have been, his brooding over a subject, which it is well known frequently affected him in the deepest and liveliest manner-viz., the fearful dishonour which was being done to the name and character and glory of Christ, by the open avowal of the grossly heretical tenets of Drs. M'Gill and Dalrymple, the Established ministers in Ayr, in regard to His Person and work. So greatly agitated did he become at this time, that it was with difficulty that he could be restrained from going at an early hour on the morning of the thanksgiving-day to the church, and then and there bearing his public testimony against these errors. As the hour of meeting approached, he still seemed determined, though evidently in no fit state for it, to carry out his design, and none of his brotherassistants were fond to intermeddle with him in such a matter. Accordingly, without saying anything to any one, off he went a few minutes before the hour, mounted the pulpit, and was proceeding with the service, when several persons who were in the church, and some of the ministers who followed him, tried to dissuade him from going

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the lamb.

but to all their efforts he indignantly refused to yield. No sooner, however, had Mr. Stevenson arrived, and gone up to him, and with his usual benignant smile upon his countenance, spoke a few words to him, than immediately he consented to come down, adding, Well, may be, it will be as well;" the lion being thus subdued by The following can also be authenticated as genuine :A year or two after the above incident took place, a meeting of the Presbytery of Kilmarnock was held at Ayr in Mr. Stevenson's manse, for, among other business, hearing discourses from students. It so happened, that with one of the discourses given in, Mr. Robertson was far from being satisfied, and even went the length of insisting that it should not be sustained. Several of the other members of Presbytery, and particularly Mr. Stevenson, pled on the side of leniency, without, however, seemingly making much impression upon the mind of their old father. When the matter was coming to a point, and the ill-fated discourse apparently about to be rejected, at this conjuncture the oldest boy of Mr. Stevenson, some four or five years of age, happened quietly to slip into the room, and Mr. Robertson observing him, immediately cried out, "Come awa, Willie! you're a pawky chiel, like your faither." This, of course, raised a general laugh, and the consequence was, that the hapless student was per

mitted safely to cross the rubicon, with an admonition to be more careful in the future. The circumstance to which we have alluded in regard to the amiable and excellent Mr. Paxton, though containing nothing particularly striking in itself, is nevertheless worthy of being mentioned, not only on account of its illustrating the benevolent feelings of Mr. Stevenson, but because of its happy result. It would appear that Mr. Paxton, when minister at Kilmaurs, had for a length of time been labouring under a dangerous disease, which to all appearance was to prove fatal. A variety of means had been employed, but seemingly with very little good effect. Hearing one day that his beloved friend and brother was at the point of death, Mr. Stevenson, being deeply affected, bethought himself what he might do in the painful circumstances. At last he resolved that he would request an eminent medical man, who had lately returned from India, and with whom he had become acquainted in Ayr, to go and see Mr. Paxton. The medical gentleman consented, but his engagements were such, he was afraid he could not go that day. The urgency of the case, however, being pressed by Mr. Stevenson, he was prevailed upon to proceed in the evening. They arrived at Kilmaurs-the distance from Ayr thither being about sixteen miles-towards midnight; and suffice it to say, that such was the efficacy of the means, accompanied as they were with the Divine blessing, which the doctor prescribed, that the seemingly dying patient was, after a season, restored to the enjoyment of the large measure of health and vigour which for many years afterwards he was favoured with. We have been told, that even in his latter days, the venerable Professor was wont to make allusion to the kindness of Dr. Stevenson in this matter, and to declare that, under God, he had been the means of preserving his life.

Mr. Stevenson entered on his ministry under auspicious circumstances. His spirit was awed, and sometimes depressed by a deep sense of the magnitude of the work in which he was engaged, and the solemn responsibilities attaching to it. But he encouraged himself in the Lord his God, knowing that the gracious Master whom he served, would, according to his faithful character and precious promise, make his grace sufficient for him. Though the congregation had been considerably agitated previous to his settlement, in consequence of the disappointments they had met with, yet they warmly welcomed him among them, and being an intelligent, devoted, and pious people, we are well assured, also, that they highly esteemed him in love for his work's sake. But here, for the present, we must stop, reserving our reminiscences of his ministerial and other services for future articles.

C

ADDRESS TO THE STUDENTS OF DIVINITY OF THE UNITED ORIGINAL SECESSION CHURCH.

(Continued from Page 740.)

III. The nature of saving faith in the Word of God demands the serious attention of all, and your close investigation who have the prospect of becoming preachers of the Gospel, at a time when there are much speculative faith and great diversity of belief in the Church. At the beginning of the Reformation from Popery, Protestants held that assurance is of the essence of faith in all matters of supernatural revelation, and condemned the doubtsome faith of the Church of Rome. But the faith which is now prevalent among Protestants, and threatens to inundate the Church and the Christian world, amounts to no more than sincerity of belief. This pernicious principle, which may be said to be the essence of Voluntaryism, and a form of positivism or rationalism, acknowledges its own incompetence and the impossibility of ascertaining what is truth; paralyses all testifying and contending for truth on the part of Churches; abolishes all national recognition and establishment of the true religion, and the Church of Christ; and produces a spurious charity which concedes that every form of sincere belief is entitled to respect, that for any thing we know, or can tell, the diversity of belief in others may be equal, or superior to our own; and that all denominations of professing Christians ought to honour one another's differences by forming one comprehensive brotherhood on the principle of agreeing to differ. Far otherwise, however, is the language of the Word of God. It always speaks of Divine and saving faith as including certainty of belief. Thus Peter, in name of the disciples, said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are sure, that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." The evangelist Luke committed to writing a declaration of those things most surely believed among Christ's disciples, that Theophilus might know the certainty of those things wherein he had been instructed. Paul exhorts his beloved Timothy, "Continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." And the apostle John supposes that the Christians, to whom his epistle was addressed, were so assured of the doctrine of Christ that they both could and would obey his injunction given in the following terms, "If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed, for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds." The reason why the Scriptures thus recognise assurance or

certainty of what is testified in them as of the essence of Divine and saving faith is, that the Holy Spirit, who is the author of this grace, is the Spirit of truth, and leads into all truth. When He savingly communicates the knowledge of any truth or doctrine contained in His Word, it is with Divine light and power, or fulness of evidence which cannot be resisted, and both captivates and certifies the believing soul. (1 John ii. 20, 21, 26, 27.) I trust, then, that you, my ingenuous hearers, will perceive that there is a vast difference between mere sincerity of religious belief, and certainty of the truth of what we believe. I refer not to any imaginary, self-deceiving, or supposed certainty, which frequently accompanies the faith which is founded only on human testimony, and consists with the belief of a lie and with strong delusions; nor to a merely human certainty, founded solely on the exercise of men's rational powers, which is attainable to the extent that the Scriptures are the Word of God, that such and such doctrines are agreeable to the Scriptures, and even that some doctrines, which fall within the province and compass of human reason, are in themselves true; but to that Divine certainty which is founded on the testimony of God in His Word, and derived from the saving illumination and teaching of the Holy Spirit. This Divine certainty is known and felt to be infallible in reference to every doctrine thus revealed by the Holy Spirit; and it brings the whole soul in subjection to the obedience of Christ.

IV. Next in importance to your acquaintance with the nature of saving faith in the Word of God, I would urge the necessity of your being well informed, and well grounded in all that is contained in a Scriptural profession of faith. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." We are enjoined "to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering." In Scriptural usage, a profession and a confession of faith are synonymous or identical in signification; though in a conventional sense, a confession of faith denotes an oral or a written statement of what we believe, and a profession of faith our public and practical adherence to the former. A profession of the faith is our creed, or the exponent of our faith. As face answers to face in a glass, so our profession ought to be the very reflected image of our faith; for “ as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," and "man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh into the heart." A profession of faith is not a declaration of what we fully or adequately understand, but of what things are surely believed among us; and hence, as certainty in the belief of the truth, though not the same measure of knowledge of the truth, is attainable by the weakest as really as by the most eminent Christian, so a profession of faith is competent to,