"late years I was beginning to lose my hope, particularly "on the supposition of your going abroad. I thought with "myself, this is not God's usual way of bringing sinners to "himself. But the word of consolation often came in re"membrance, that God is a God afar off. O how merci"ful has he been to you, and how merciful to us, in conceal❝ing your miserable situation till grace brought it to light! "I do believe the discovery a year ago would...... but "these recollections are painful; therefore I forbear. What "comforting letters have you sent us! Could a thousand "pounds a year have afforded an equal consolation? Impos"sible. It might indeed have tied us down faster to the "earth, but it could not have set our hearts upon the un"searchable riches that are in Christ Jesus. Your friends "in Glasgow are rejoicing with us; some of them say❝ing, Had the good old people (meaning his grandfather "and grandmother) been alive, how would this have reviv"ed them!" Among your grandfather's papers, I find the "inclosed letter written by Mr. Maculloch to him in a time "of distress, when the sins of his youth oppressed him. "Read it with care, and may God grant a blessing in the "perusal."

It was surely with good reason that Mr. Buchanan added, "It is not the smallest of my comforts, that I have such "a mother as this;" who, though evidently grieved at his past misconduct, was, as he afterwards expressed it, "overwhelmed with joy, that her son, who was lost, "had been found."

It appears by the subsequent part of this letter, that Mr. Buchanan had a short time before been introduced by the kindness of his friend to the notice of a gentleman, to whose munificent patronage he was afterwards indebted for the means of accomplishing the prevailing desire of his heart, in entering upon the ministry of the Gospel in the Church of England. This was the late Mr. Henry Thornton; who, to talents of a superior order, and to various and extensive acquirements, devoted during a laborious and honourable course to the most important duties of public life, united a

warm and enlightened attachment to genuine Christianity; which, while it formed the basis of his religious character, not only supplied the rule and the motives of his general conduct, but prompted him, in an especial manner, to support with calm and steady zeal, whatever a remarkably sound and vigorous understanding deemed calculated to promote the glory of God, and the present and future happiness of his fellow creatures. It was to this distinguished person that Mr. Buchanan, happily for himself and for others, was now made known and recommended. Mr. Newton had been largely indebted to the friendship and patronage of the excellent father of this gentleman; and justly thought, that he could not render a more important service to his young friend, or one which might eventually be more useful to the world, than by introducing him to the son; who, with higher mental powers, inherited that enlarged and generous spirit of benevolence, which had associated, in almost every mind, the name of Thorntona, with that of philanthropy and Christian charity.

The liberal education which Mr. Buchanan had already received, and his advanced age as a student, naturally led his friends to wish that it might be practicable to obtain ordination for him without so long a preparation as a residence at an English University for a degree would require. The Bishop, however, to whom an application was made for this purpose, discouraged any such plan, and it was accordingly abandoned. It was afterwards thought, that holy orders might be procured for Mr. Buchanan at an early period, on the condition of his going abroad; and Mr. Thornton desired him to consider, whether his health would allow him to accept the chaplaincy of the colony of Sierra Leone. To this proposal Mr. Buchanan, after requesting Mr. Newton's advice, signified his cordial assent; but, for reasons which do not appear, this design was also relinquished. For a short time, the mind of Mr. Buchanan seems to have been somewhat depressed by the failure of these attempts.

a See Cowper's "Charity."

"Notwithstanding," he says, at the close of the last quoted, "your endeavours in my behalf, I have little expecta❝tion that you will succeed. Providence, I think, has a "few more trials and difficulties for me to encounter, before "I am led into so pleasant a path; and I know that they "are needful to make me more humble."

He felt, too, the absence of his paternal friend and guide, and looked around among his acquaintance for a companion, in vain. "I have but one, serious friend," he observes, "and him I only see once in a week or fortnight. Next to "the blessing of communion with God on earth, must surely "be the society of his children. Yet I shall not complain, "if I can enjoy the former privilege; for then, Ille solus "turba erit.”

Amidst these discouraging circumstances, however, Mr. Buchanan assures his venerable correspondent, that he was never so truly happy in his life, having been guided into "the way of peace," relying on the direction of divine Providence, and being animated by the hope set before “him.'"

But it was not long before the kindness of the generous patron to whom he had been introduced, opened to him a prospect which his most sanguine expectations had never ventured to anticipate: instead of any further attempt to obtain ordination for him under his present circumstances, Mr. Thornton determined to send him to the University of Cambridge at his own expense; that he might thus enter the church with every possible advantage, and be prepared for a higher and more extensive sphere of usefulness than any for which he could otherwise be qualified. This resolution was scarcely less honourable to the character of Mr. Buchanan than to the liberality of his patron; whose discriminating judgment afforded no slight presumption in favour of any one to whom his protection was extended, and whose penetration was in the present instance amply justified by the event.

Early in the month of September, Mr. Buchanan communicated to his mother, and his friend Mr. Newton, who was

45 still in the country, the joyful news of Mr. Thornton's munificent intention. He had been so much depressed by the failure of former plans, and the present offer so far exceeded any hopes which he had indulged, that he was at first almost tempted to think it a delusion; but on Mr. Thornton's assuring him personally of the reality of the proposal, which he appears to have originally made to him by letter, he received it with those mingled feelings 'of gratitude and humility, which were the surest pledges that the benevolent exertions of his patron would not be made in vain.

"I was emancipated," he writes to Mr. Newton, "from "the law a few days ago, and am now willing to enter "into the eternal bonds of the Gospel. I have been endea❝vouring to arrange my studies in some measure prepara"tory to my going to Cambridge; but I find so much to do, "that I know not where to begin. I wish to devote my "greatest attention to the Bible, and am desirous of adopt"ing some regular plan in studying it; but I cannot "please myself, and I am a perfect stranger to the system "which is usually followed. The Bible appears to me like "a confused heap of polished stones prepared for a build❝ing, which must be brought together, and each of them fit❝ted to its place, before the proportion and symmetry of "the temple appear. I would fain hope that the foundation"stone is laid with me; but the raising of the superstructure "appears an arduous undertaking, and the pinnacle of the "temple is quite out of sight, even in idea. I conjectured "that probably the Articles and Creeds of the Church "contain the first principles of the oracles of God; and "on this presumption I have begun to prove all the ar"ticles of my faith by Scripture. Whether I am right in "this mode of study I know not.

"I never felt myself in more need of divine direction than ❝ now. When I consider myself so evidently called forth "on the Lord's side, my heart is faint; and I am apt to say, "Who is sufficient for these things?' I find I am unable to "go through the important studies before me, unless I am "led every step. At present it appears to me, that my sole

"business at the University is contained in one line of St. "Paul, to be enriched with all utterance, and all know"ledge;' or in other words, to be eloquent, and mighty in "the Scriptures ;' which are said to have been the accom"plishments of the preacher Apollos. But I find that I "must attend to various branches of human learning, for "which at present I have no relish. Alas! Sir, if St. Paul "had sent Timothy and Titus to such a college as this, they "would have complained to him of such a plan. But he "would perhaps have answered, as he does somewhere; "Till I come, give attendance to reading' that ye may

"know how ye ought to answer every man.""

The sentiment expressed in the latter part of the preceding extract will not appear extraordinary to those who consider the state of Mr. Buchanan's mind at this period, and the one great object which he had in view in accepting Mr. Thornton's offer of an University education. The same train of thought occurs in his next letter to Mr. Newton; and although he afterwards acquiesced upon principle in the usual course of University studies, it may not be without its use to develop somewhat more fully his present dispositions and feelings.

"Permit me," he observes to his first excellent friend, "to thank you for your letter. It is a mark of your regard, "of which I am unworthy, and has affixed a seal to the "truth of your interest in my welfare, which I hope will "never be broken. Like Hezekiah, I spread it before the "Lord, but with a different purpose; not to avert a curse, "but to improve a blessing. The words in Hezekiah's let❝ter were to reproach the living God; but the words in 66 my letter were to assure me that his name is love, that he "is very gracious, and that I should serve him with a "cheerful heart. I have prayed that I may be enabled to "do so. Your letter is a silent monitor, which I hope at the "University often to consult. It will, I trust, serve as a "counterpoise to the parade of worldly wisdom, and teach "me to reverse the motto of the schools, Ubi philosophus "cessat, illic incipit theologus. Chrysostom was of your opi