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It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' In the midst of life we are in death. What I say to one, I say to all, Watch; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.' There is but a step between us and death. 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.' These truths and admonitions we have often heard. We admit their importance; but it is not usually till disease awakens our slumbering minds that we feel their force, and act under their influence. Happy for us if even then the end be gained!

"It has afforded to your minister matter of devout gratitude, that during the many dark and solitary Sabbaths which he has been ordained by Infinite Wisdom to pass, his beloved people have enjoyed the benefit of an able and acceptable supply; and it has been, as it ought, his daily and earnest prayer to God, that much spiritual benefit might accompany these ministrations. Lest it should unexpectedly be found that the recovered strength of your minister should be, after all, unequal to the whole customary service of the Sabbath, he has, on the suggestion of his beloved brethren the elders and deacons of the church, and especially at the request of the elders of the sister church in Miles' Lane (on whose minister the chastening hand of his heavenly Father still lies), invited one of his brethren from the North, the Rev. George Lawson, of Kilmarnock, eldest son of the late Dr. Lawson, our Pro

fessor in Divinity at Selkirk, to assist us with his valuable labours for some months, should assistance for so long a period be found necessary. We look for him in town by the end of next week.

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It has already been announced to you, that, by Divine permission, the holy communion will be dispensed in this congregation on Sabbath the 19th instant, and this day fortnight. As the time is near at hand, the minister will be happy to meet, on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, or any evening in the course of this week, the young people or others who feel it to be their duty, as it is their inestimable privilege, to make a public profession of their faith in Christ and obedience to him, in order to their introduction to the fellowship of the church. A competent measure of knowledge, entire confidence in the mediation, and reliance on the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God, with devotedness of heart to the doctrine of the holy Jesus, and the imitation of his perfect example; these form the endowments of head and heart essentially needful to membership, and indeed to vital Christianity, whether under the form of a public profession or not. The minister most earnestly requests his young friends to devote a reasonable measure of their time to deep and retired thoughtfulness on the subject; to lift up their eyes and hearts to the Father of Lights for guidance, and for the aid of his Holy Spirit, to enable them to follow up the convictions of their own minds, and with a ready acquiescence in the call of God and of the church, to give themselves

to the Lord and to the church by the will of God."

In his state of infirmity, he was most solicitous to continue his usual pulpit labours: so bent was he on this, that he insisted on preaching when he was very weak; and in the pulpit, he was sometimes seized with such severe pain, as to be obliged to desist, and to be assisted down and carried home. By the care of his family and of his excellent medical friend Dr. Darling, his strength revived, and his people saw him return to that place which he often felt to be the gate of heaven. It would be injustice to eminent merit, and ingratitude to distinguished kindness, were we not to state the high obligations which Dr. Waugh most feelingly acknowledged that he was under to Dr. Darling, for his skilful and affectionate attention. He watched over his health with the care of a son; and, amidst numerous and pressing engagements, was unremitting in his solicitude, and ministered to his complaints with the utmost attention. Like himself, this gentleman came from the pastoral scenery of the south of Scotland, and they were endeared to each other by various associations,― by gratitude on the one hand, and by veneration on the other; and his well-merited success shews to what happy results thorough education, natural acuteness, and active habits, will lead.

These infirmities, and increasing attacks of pain and sickness, were to him as the sentence of death on himself; but there were other causes which tended to impress still more on his mind the idea

that the time of his departure was drawing nigh. The death of his son Alexander struck him to the heart. He had called him in his heart the son of his right hand, from the co-operation and solace in every good word and work which he had expected from him; and when he laid him in the grave, he felt that his right hand was withered. In writing to a friend, he says:

"It has pleased God to remove from us the delight of our eyes, and the object of our fondest anticipations. After fourteen months of severe suffering, he fell asleep in the bosom of his divine Redeemer, relying on his atoning sacrifice, and full of the hope of that Gospel which it was the delight of his heart to preach. We saw flung around his character an endearing atmosphere of unfeigned piety, gentleness, and love. He will long live in the unbought esteem of those who can justly appreciate cultivated talent, strict godliness, and polished manners. Present my affectionate regards to -, to whose kind

offices my dear son often told me he was greatly indebted for just views of vital religion. Christians, in the evening of their life, have precious opportunities for honouring God by their counsels to the young. The words of dying saints have proved living oracles to survivors. Bear us on your heart before the Throne."

The death of Dr. Bogue made a deep impression on him. He was requested by the Directors of the London Missionary Society, along with Dr. Winter and the Rev. Mr. Arundel, to attend the funeral, as a deputation to represent them. He complied with the request, and felt and expressed the deepest interest in the solemnities of that scene. In a funeral sermon on the occasion, he

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made many striking allusions to his own frailty, and to the approaching close of those labours in the work of Christ, which his friend and brother had so honourably finished. We We may also notice the death of Dr. Hall, of Edinburgh, a man distinguished by his public spirit, the blandness and courtesy of his manners, his generous activity, and the unction and energy of his pulpit eloquence. The letter which he wrote to his widow on that occasion strikingly shews how he heard the voice of God in his demise," Be thou also ready."

"I feel it as a voice from heaven, announcing my own approaching exit. I deem it a part of the communion of saints to take a share in your sorrow, and to hold you in the arms of sincere affection before the throne of our Father and our God, in earnest prayer and pleading. What a consolation!--the Redeemer lives; and his cause, of which his life is the security, can never die. You feel the privation as the loss of a right hand. O! take the firmer grasp of the arm of covenanted power. It is in the absence of created props that we feel the value of Divine support; and it may be the design of Heaven to remove the trembling reed, in order to bring back our wandering confidence to the cedar of Lebanon. He has been cut down in a state of mellowed ripeness for the heavenly garner. For two-and-fifty years I have enjoyed a large share of his kind affections. I can never forget my obligations to him at Haddington, in giving a right direction to my hesitating and trembling young mind to advance in my career of theological study, and have at no time suffered the pleasing recollection to depart from me. O! little did I think last Monday, when I was sending off letters to him, on the arrangements of the trustees of the Evangelical Magazine, and had scarce a moment, in the hurry, to put down my name, that at that moment my

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