NOTE.

It may be necessary to state to many of Mr. Maclaren's friends why this Memoir has not been laid before them sooner. The writer has had more than his ordinary duties to discharge. A Revival of Religion, with which this place was visited a little after the preparation of the Memoir was begun, demanded for months his whole time and care. At a later period he had affliction and death in his family. The writing of these pages had to be prosecuted at intervals, and sometimes at distant intervals. This circumstance will account also for some slight appearance of repetition. It is hoped that the repetitions, if such they shall be deemed, are few and unimportant; and the book is now issued in the humble trust that, in answer to many a prayer offered by more than one, it, too, may prove useful seed, though but a little handful, in corners here and there of the great seed-field of human souls.

It has been found necessary to exclude from the second part of the volume one or two letters specially referred to in the Memoir. These letters are very long: they are of such a nature that, if given at all, they must be given entirely; but this is prevented by limited space.

The Sermons, which conclude the volume, have been edited by the Rev. William Maclaren, Blairlogie.

Notwithstanding their excellence, these Discourses can give but a very inadequate conception of the powers of their Author. This, indeed, may be well understood from the nature of their preparation in the ordinary weekly course of duty, and the special and immediate object of the weekly pulpit. He has left nothing that bears the finished image and stamp of his intellect, or expresses the strength, the fulness, and variety of his capacities.

P. L.

STRATHAVEN, Dec., 1860.

MEMOIR.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY.-EARLY LIFE.

Ir has been thought by many that the story of JOHN MACLAREN'S life is worth the telling. It is a common remark that the life of every one has in it a momentous history, which, were it thoroughly known and truly told, would be instructive for us his fellows, who are also engaged, and constantly engaged, in building up our everlasting destiny. But John Maclaren's was a stronglymarked character, and his was, altogether, a marked history. He had an uncommon nature, and led an uncommon life. God had endowed him with qualities, and given his character a fashion and a stamp which removed him from the ordinary run of men; his inner history was written in lines large, and strongly drawn; the work of God's Spirit, in his soul, was very deep and very mighty; the different stages of his spiritual life were clearly marked and distinguished from one another; his intellect had an interesting history of its own; his work in the Church was peculiar; the spirit in which he prosecuted that work presents a great example to every minister of the Gospel, and to every follower of Christ; the energy and ardour with which he wrought had in it something stupendous, and may be said to have cost him his life; and if his history were only properly told, it would not fail to arrest attention and to impart rich instruction."

It had been desirable that his life should have been

B

written by some one whose name would have been a solicitation and an inducement to study it. But since the duty has fallen upon me, for the reason that I knew him as, I believe, none other knew him, it is just as well that this reason should be understood at the outset. I shall speak at least not with hesitation, not uncertainly, but what, from the closest and fullest fellowship, I saw and knew him to be. Besides, I have not spared pains to gather from many quarters what might contribute to fill out and complete my knowledge of his life and character. No one, indeed, can describe with perfect correctness what another has been. The most truthful account must, after all, be but an approach to the truth. But, with this necessary qualification, what I write shall be the truth. Now that his short life on earth is over, I regard it as property which God has given us to use for His glory, by earnestly learning the great lessons which it teaches.

The earlier part of his life would have been passed over by only marking a few necessary dates, but for one reason that reason is, that a very distinct and lively image can be formed of the boy. A boy he was, too, of such a nature that he is worth the looking at,- -a remarkable boy, who expressed very distinctly and strongly what the man would be. We shall look at him as he then was, with what was good about him, and what was not so good. And here I must observe, that I do not mean to stop by the way and moralize about his early character. Let it speak for itself. The reader need not be at a loss to draw from it the proper lessons. We must hasten on to the more important period of his life.

JOHN MACLAREN was born on the 27th July, 1826, at Dunipace Mills, parish of Dunipace, and county of Stirling. His father, James Maclaren, was a farmer, miller, and grain-dealer. John, I am told, had much of his make and appearance, only the son's features were not so strong. The parent was, like the son, of the tallest form, and, from all that one learns of him, he had, with a strong frame, a strong intellect and strong, enterprising

character. He died when John was a boy. John's mother, Elizabeth Hay, still survives.

The first distinct glimpse we get of the child is when he was about four years of age. His father determined at that time to put him to school; and as the nearest school to Dunipace Mills was too distant for so young a child, he was sent to an aunt who resided at Thornbank, that he might attend a school not far distant at Grahamstown, in the neighbourhood of Falkirk. He had been set down at the end of the avenue leading to the house. His aunt, standing at the window, beheld the little fellow coming in at the gate with his little bundle under his arm. The sight suggested much to her who already knew not a little of life's pilgrimage; and, while tears filled her eyes, she said, "There comes John, poor man! he has entered on the first stage of the journey of life; who knows where he may have yet to travel?"

The

His aunt, Mrs. Honeyman, still survives in extreme old age. He resided with her two or three years. recollections of her only daughter and only child, in regard to her young cousin at this time, are very distinct. She was several years older than he, and he was a boy who strongly stamped himself upon one's memory. A few strokes will set before us his childhood. There was a striking mixture of strength and tenderness in the child. A strong child, with a manly spirit within him, he hated to be much taken care of. If the afternoon was wet the servant was sent to bring him home, and it gave great delight to John, on such occasions, to make his escape from her and come scampering through the rain, leaving her to follow with the wrappings she had taken for his behoof. He had withal a generous little heart within him. He would part with anything. It was noticed that many little boys gathered round the gate morning and evening. There was a garden attached to the house. What fruit had been put into his pockets was soon distributed among his followers, and sometimes the supply was not sufficient for the demand. here was a temptation. He would slip into the garden, and, with fresh supplies, climb to the top of the wall

Now