ration of God's children. But, though the righteous may be at the hour of death thus harassed, and that to a very great degree, they are not, therefore, in the meantime, utterly destitute of comfortable hope. They are not given up to absolute despair. They are still enabled to lift up their eyes, and, though with a trembling and a faltering tongue, to send up their cry to God their Saviour. They are still enabled, though not with that confidence which would become them, to hope in his mercy, to hope that at even time it shall be light. And, oh, how many of the righteous, who have been, through fear of death, all their lifetime subject to bondage, have yet, at the approach of death, had, to their own wonder, and to the wonder of others, all their doubts and fears dispelled, and been filled with all peace and joy in believing; have had, as it were, the interposing veil drawn aside, and been enabled to look with ravishment into the invisible world; have had, as it were, as was in reality the case with Stephen in the midst of his persecutors, the heavens opened, revealing the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, making intercession for them, and ready to welcome them to the mansions of the blessed! And what a wondrous effect have views of the invisible world, and at such a time, upon the souls of the righteous! How suddenly is the grim and horrible visage of death transformed into a countenance beaming tenderness and love! With what cheerfulness do they observe the approach of the king of terrors, and do they feel his grasp, and do they commit themselves to his custody; and leave behind them all that they have been accustomed to hold most dear all their goods and possessions, all their friends

and relations, all the excellent of the earth, and all the means of grace, the word and ordinances of God, the well of salvation, and the gates of Zion! They desire to depart and to be with Christ, as far better than the utmost abundance of both temporal and spiritual prosperity upon earth; and their bodies, those dear parts of themselves, they willingly resign to worms and corruption, resting in hope of a blessed resurrection, knowing that that which is sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption, and that that which is sown in dishonour shall be raised in glory, and that that which is sown in weakness shall be raised in power, and that that which is sown a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body."

Mr. Robson had his trials in Halifax. The congregation, peaceful at first, became distracted by some troublesome persons, and to such a height was the agitation carried, that he demitted his charge about the 23d of July 1820; and, in May 1824, he removed with his family to Pictou. Soon after the demission of his charge, he made a tour through some of the northern States of America, where he had two congregations in his offer; but he declined them, chiefly because the climate appeared not to agree with his constitution. He could easily, have obtained another appointment in Nova Scotia, but the greater part of country stations involved exertions somewhat foreign to his habits, and he reckoned it no violation of duty not to enter on any such sphere of labour. He preached, however, frequently in the congregations around, especially on sacramental occasions, or where the minister happened to be sick or from home. His ministrations

were uniformly acceptable. Mr. Robson was a regular and temperate liver, and although not of a very robust constitution, generally enjoyed good health. At last, however, his physical frame indicated symptoms of decay. The distemper, a complaint in the bowels, increased, being often accompanied with acute pain; and eventually, nature becoming exhausted, he expired on the 8th of December 1838, in the sixty-third year of his age.

"In his last illness," writes the Rev. Mr. M'Kinlay, "I regularly visited him. He requested me, as a favour, that I would address him precisely in the same manner as I was accustomed to address those who were in a dying situation. This I endeavoured to do; but I must say, the tenor of his remarks, and his truly Christian conduct, were much more calculated to afford precious instruction to me than any thing I could say was fitted to be of service to him. He was truly an excellent man. The qualities he possessed were marked and defined. No person, acquainted with him ever so slightly, could mistake what he was. He was sincere, upright, and, when it became necessary to express his sentiments, open and unreserved. Exceedingly punctual and exact in all he had to do, he proved a very efficient clerk of Synod-which he continued to be till his death. He was judicious, and possessed of accurate and extensive information. If there was any point on which he conceived himself ignorant, he made not the slightest pretensions of knowing it. As a preacher, he was clear, neat, attractive, and instructive. Mr. Robson, it may be added, was of middle stature, and of genteel appearance and manners." His ashes rest in the buryingground in the vicinity of the town of Pictou, and close

by the spot where those of his friend Dr. M'Culloch were afterwards deposited.

In our next chapter we shall commence the history of the Presbytery of Pictou, which was formed nine years after that of Truro, and, until the year 1817, consisted of ministers belonging to the General Associate Synod,

CHAPTER VI.

First supply of Sermon to Pictou-Account of Dr. M'Gregor's labours, written by himself-His appointment to Nova Scotia -His Voyage-Landing-Journey from Halifax, by Truro, to Pictou, &c., &c.

THE village of Truro is on the way from Halifax to the town of Pictou, being sixty miles distant from the former, and forty from the latter; but at the time the mission commenced the town had no existence. The county, formerly the district, of Pictou, is about forty miles in length and twenty in breadth. On the north side, along the shore, the land, generally speaking, is level, and much of it fertile; other portions or it are swampy. Towards the interior the country becomes more elevated, ranges of hills extend in different directions, and occasionally present scenery of a bold and romantic description. The present population is not less than 25,000 souls, and rapidly on the increase. From the fertility of the soil, the abundance of its minerals, such as coal, ironstone,

lime, &c., and its vicinity to the fisheries, it has become one of the most important sections of the province.

The first settlers in Pictou began to receive occasional supplies of sermon from the Rev. Messrs. Cock and Smith, about the year 1780, and this led to