the neighbourhood, he continued to reside at his father's, a distance of about twelve or fourteen miles, and usually rode to Newtown on the Saturday afternoon, and returned on the following Monday, unless when detained by ministerial visitation or catechising, or some other clerical duty. His non-residence must have been inconvenient for himself, and very disadvantageous to the interests of the congregation; and yet never was there a people more warmly attached to a minister. In his public instructions, they hung upon his lips with admiration and delight; and his private conversation, when he had an opportunity of meeting with them, produced a still deeper impression.

We have already adverted to his very marked dislike of every thing bordering on slander or defamation of character,--a vice so strongly interwoven with our fallen nature, that many good men, highly distinguished for other excellencies, do not watch with sufficient circumspection against this besetting sin. The following is an illustration of his character in this point:- One of his people had travelled all the way from Newtown to his father's, where he usually resided, to communicate to him an unfavourable report concerning another member of the congregation. Some friends being with him, this person was requested to stay and dine with them. After dinner, he took occasion, in a jocular manner, to ask each person, in his turn, how far he had ever known a man travel to tell an evil report of his neighbour; when some gave one reply, and some

another: he at last came to this individual, but without waiting for his self-condemning reply, or unnecessarily exposing him, Mr. Waugh stated, that he had lately met with a Christian professor, apparently so zealous for the honour of the church, as to walk fourteen miles with no other object than that of making known to his minister the failings of a brother-member. He then, in a warm and impressive manner, enlarged on the praise of that "charity which covers a multitude of sins; which rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth."

At this time, a considerable interest was excited about effecting a union betwixt the two sides of the Secession (the Burghers and Antiburghers), who had been separated for about thirty-five years. Mr. Waugh entered with deep interest into a subject so peculiarly congenial to the temper of his mind, and wrote a paper in recommendation of the measure, which was generally circulated through that part of the country. Several meetings were held; but, from the warmth and jealousy displayed on each side, these terminated in no salutary result. "The time to favour Zion was not yet come." But though the lovers of peace were not able then to rear that comely structure which has been since so happily completed at a more auspicious period, it will be said to them, in the great day of account, by Him who weigheth intentions as well as actions, "that they did well that it was in their heart."

It was peculiarly gratifying to the subject of this memoir, to find himself, thirty-nine years

after this period, spared by a kind and gracious Providence to be present at a meeting of the Synod in Edinburgh, September 1819, when arrangements were making by both sides of the Secession for effecting that union which now triumphed over every obstruction, and was successfully concluded on the following year. In those arrangements he took a most deep and lively interest; and was deputed by his own Synod to offer up their fervent prayers to the exalted Head of the church, to crown that work and labour of love with his divine and efficient blessing.

While he was faithfully discharging both the public and private duties of his ministry at Newtown, the deep impression his services had produced on the church at Wells Street began to appear. A call to him from that congregation was brought before the Synod which met at Edinburgh, in May, 1781. By the Synod's minutes, it appears that, "after parties were fully heard, he was continued in Newtown by a great majority." He had spoken in favour of his continuance at Newtown before the Synod proceeded to give judgment. We extract from his own papers, written at this date, the following account of his sentiments on a matter to him of no common interest :-"The shortness of the time of my ministrations at Newtown; the yet unsettled state of that congregation; the attachment which they have manifested to their pastor; the struggles which they have made for the settlement of a minister among them; above all, my unfitness for

the office in which I now minister; these are the considerations which moved me to decline accepting of this call. Since that day, insinuations of several of my fathers in the ministry, in regard to that affair, have hurt my mind very much. They are pleased to say, that I have wantonly preferred my own ease before the good of a congregation which deserves well of every friend to the Secession; that by my explicit refusal, I had put it out of the Synod's power to fulfil their engagements in the speedy settlement of a minister among them; and that by this fresh disappointment I had given the congregation a thrust which might be followed by very unhappy consequences to the interest of the Secession in London. Though my heart tells me that these charges are not applicable to me, yet I do not recollect many events of my life which have affected me more. The happiness of the congregation of Wells Street hath never been to me an indifferent matter: nay, were I assured that by my declining to accept of their call, they shall suffer more than a slight disappointment, or be in danger of applying to any other body of Christians, I am fully persuaded that no considerations, taken from my health, ease, native country, or any other quarter, would deter me from devoting to them my best and continued services in the ministry of the Gospel."

In mentioning the following incident, which took place this summer (and which has been communicated by the venerable ex-secretary of the London Missionary Society, whose praise is in all

our churches), it is to be observed, in explanation, that a chapel in connexion with the Secession having been recently opened in Carlisle, Mr. Waugh, in his zeal for the cause, had made himself responsible for a considerable debt upon it:" It was on the 4th of July, 1781, that, by desire of Lady Glenorchy, I went from Lancaster, where I then resided, to Carlisle, to purchase of Mr. Waugh a small chapel, in which he had occasionally ministered in connexion with the Secession church. But as the cause was discouraging, he was desirous of parting with the place; and Lady Glenorchy, who had engaged me and others to preach at various places in the North of England, authorised me to purchase it for her. I met Mr. Waugh there. I preached in the evening. Before sermon, he baptized a child; next day I paid him the purchase-money, 1207.; and he has often told me since, how his heart was lightened from a heavy burden, as he had made himself responsible for the money, and was afraid of the consequences. He used to say it was a warning to him, never more to have to do with money matters in chapel-building. I little thought then, that fourteen years afterwards an intimacy would take place that would last for life."

A second call to him from London was on the 27th November, 1781, brought before an interim. meeting of Synod, which again decided that he should be continued at Newtown. The commissioners from Wells Street, in a letter to their constituents, give the following statement regarding the decision:-"We are exceedingly vexed to