shore. He arrived in Greenock avoid being addressed by him. He

too late for the more early services introduced family worship into his of the occasion, but attended the mother's house, at which time he later ones, and was closing the often spoke from the Scriptures, day in despair of enjoying the hope when many occasionally attended he so earnestly desired, when a beyond his own circle; his friends person invited him to accompany urged him to attempt speaking in him to an English service, where public, but much persuasion was Mr. John Love, of Glasgow, required to convince him that it (formerly of London, and secretary could be the will of God, that he to the London Missionary Society, should be employed in proclaiming afterwards Dr. Love) was to preach; the glorious gospel. His first

he went with his friend, the text preached from wasGenesis, xlix. 4. “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel," which was greatly adapted to his state of mind. In the course of the sermon many causes of the uncertainty and disquietude of the state of mind under which he laboured were pointed out, and at its close he was directed to the Saviour, as the only source of stability and peace: this had a happy effect; a joy now took possession of his mind, to which he had hitherto been an utter stranger, and believing, he entered into

rest.

attempt was unexpected to himself; he was called forward to speak, when he went only to be a hearer. The success which attended his first efforts encouraged him to go forward; he heard of several who were awakened to a conviction of their danger, and one or two such records occur in his journal :"The first night crowds of people attended, two or three persons seemed to be awakened, which encouraged me to stay longer; sometimes I was interrupted by their cries and tears, so as to be obliged to desist altogether from speaking for a short time; there This revolution in his feelings appeared to be a general revival was so decided, and so prevailing, among many of those who had been that he felt to have commenced a before changed, as well as among new existence. On returning home the unregenerate. Night and day his friends were astonished at the I was engaged in preaching to them, sudden change in his spirits, from and my ardent prayer was granted, silence and dejection to cheerful-in seeing many of them turned from ness and vivacity. He contemplated sin to righteousness; and God with inexpressible delight the laws and ways of God, especially his expression of love and grace in the Gospel, and was for some time permitted to enjoy almost uninterrupted happiness; he began immediately to warn those around of their danger, and it became the first desire of his heart to proclaim the gospel to his fellow-creatures; his thoughts were continually dwelling Being called forth to labour for on this subject, and he frequently the salvation of his fellow men, found himself in the fields with much in the same way as Mr. his hands raised in the attitude of M'Arthur, and upon the same field, preaching, so that many of his they of course became coadjutors neighbours would turn aside, to in the same work, and among the

has given such success to my feeble labours, I feel it my duty to go forward." He adds, "I am often astonished that God should have given countenance to truth so inaccurately stated, but He had regard to what of his own was scattered, and rendered it mighty to the salvation of sinners."

same people. His journal records after regretting that his occupation a variety of objections he now felt in fishing allowed him so little to his former church communion, time for the improvement of his especially the very general ad- mind, and expressing the great ministration of the sacrament there, happiness he had felt among his as well as the want of discrimina- friends there, he says "I often tion of character in the addresses wonder that any thing in this world on these occasions; these appeared should ever occupy our attention, powerful obstacles to his continu- or lead us away from him who reance in that communion. In that deemed us by his own blood; for journal also, on the subject of my own part, I often move heavily, Baptism there appears to have been and stand in need of fresh supplies that thorough consideration which of the grace of God to keep me ever characterized him before the ever in motion. Circumstances are adoption of any new sentiment, or trying with me at present; however, the taking of any first step, and I ought to rejoice in contending for believing that the evidence was in the truth, and especially for the favour of the baptism of believers truth that is the foundation of a only, he was baptized at or about guilty sinner's hope, and gives the same time as Mr. M'Arthur. He him confidence in the sight of his now consulted several ministers, Maker." whose judgment he respected, about the propriety of engaging himself entirely in the ministry, and uniformly received encouragement, accompanied with some advice to spend some time at an academy before he entered more fully on the work.

Mr. McFarlane visited Kilwinning a second time in the course of a few months, when admission to the academy of Bradford, York, under the charge of Dr. Steadman, was procured for him; he therefore left the church of Kilwinning for that Institution, in the month of In the summer of 1805 he visited February, 1806, with many good the Baptist Church in Kilwinning, wishes on their part, and much ferAyrshire, Scotland, when he and vent affection on his. But from they became knit to one another in his friends, among whom his labours love, which mutual interest and had been so much blessed, the attachment was never broken; he separation was much more painful. became very intimate with their As a preacher he was popular, and pastor, and obtained his advice and his ministry successful; their sepainterest on his behalf, in relation to ration, therefore, produced a kind his engaging wholly in the ministry. of Bochim among them, and nothing After spending some time in Ayr-but the hope upon his part, that his shire he returned to his nets, at the season of fishing herrings on Lochfine, when he engaged for the last time in this occupation; but while thus employed he did not cease to engage in the service of the gospel

on

Lord's days, and at other opportunities; he also found it necessary at this time to contend for the purity of the gospel of Christ in the circle of his labours. In a letter to one of his friends at Kilwinning, dated October, 1805,

He

going to the academy would turn to the furtherance of the Gospel by his instrumentality, and the expectation both on their part and his, that he would in due time return to settle among them, rendered the separation at all bearable. arrived at the academy at Little Horton, Bradford, about the 10th of March, 1806, pleased with his lot in the south, but bearing a burden of concern for his affectionate and weeping friends whom he had left

behind him in the north, and deeply | the wish of returning to live and concerned that he might act pro- labour in it. But before he had perly in the situation in which he finished his studies at the Academy, was now placed. In one of his he received invitations from several letters to his friend in Kilwinning, churches, which had enjoyed the about this period, he says, "Ibenefit of his labours while a stupray, and I hope you will pray, dent, to spend some time with that I may be kept from doing any them in order to his ultimately thing that will be the means of becoming their pastor. He finally causing you to regret recommend-fixed on settling at Rawden, in ing me to the Academy, or to make any sorry that they had admitted me, for I feel pained at the very thought that ever they should be imposed on, or that ever they should have to repent of having admitted any from the Baptist churches in Scotland."

Yorkshire, and was ordained a pastor over the church there in the month of April, 1811. Nearly twelve months afterwards, in alluding to that event in a letter to a friend, he says, "It would afford me pleasure to have an interview with you, and spend some time While prosecuting his studies at among you; I am often with you in the Academy, his letters evinced spirit, and in imagination have his continuing to live in the fear of frequent excursions to Scotland, God, and that he walked with him both asleep and awake. Though in newness of life; he felt a lively I am comfortable upon the whole, interest in the general affairs of the yet I frequently think I should be kingdom of Christ, especially in more at home in my native counthat part of the country where he try, and should the Lord spare my he then resided and laboured, and life, I sometimes think it probable there God made his ministry useful I may end my days among you. You in several instances, which was would see an account of my ordivery gratifying to his heart; but nation in the Baptist Magazine; it amidst all his engagements in the was a solemn, affecting, and pleassouth, he never forgot his first ing season to me. It appeared a friends in the north; his deep in-formidable undertaking, when I terest in them all, and his kind considered the work on which I remembrance of them as indivi- had entered, and does so still, but duals, with their particular circumstances, was very uncommon, They have remarked that whatever were the acquirements he made at Bradford, or whatever the circle of society in which he moved there, when he visited them, they found him the same both in private and public as when he went out and in among them at the beginning; the same simplicity and sanctity of character distinguished him, his ministry was plain and pious, graced with solidity and Scripture phraseology.

When Mr. McFarlane left Scotland, it was with the prospect and

the Lord has hitherto enabled me to hold on my way, and still I would commit my cause to his management and care. I have often feared I should stick fast, but hitherto God has kept me in motion, and I hope he will continue to do so, until he land me on the shores of eternity. I was married, and began housekeeping on the 21st of May, and have reason to think my wife is from the Lord; we are one in our views and aims, and walk hand in hand to our heavenly Father's house. Since I wrote you last, I have passed about a year of the most eventful

part of my life. I stand in increas- | the success of the preacher's minis

ing need of your prayers, and those of all my Christian friends, that the Lord would strengthen me, and give me wisdom to manage all my affairs with discretion. As a church we enjoy peace and walk in love. We have had a few additions to our number of late, and hope we shall have more soon; my labours have not been so successful as I could have wished, yet I hope I do not labour in vain; were my labours more blessed, I think I should feel more at home."

try elsewhere, and the prosperity of the church which he left; but others may, and no doubt have, left their stations too hastily, and very improperly; not only for this cause, but also for other reasons, few movements are more momentous than these. But whether pastors remove or remain, under such circumstances, surely much solemn self-examination, accompanied with "all prayer and supplication," and devout deliberation, are necessary in determining the individual how he should act, lest by remaining he disobey those dictates of Providence which may intimate the propriety of his removing; or, on the other hand, incur the woe of the idle shepherds (and such there are), who for some selfish or sinister ends, leave their flocks.

(To be continued.)

ON THE EXTENT OF REDEMPTION.
To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
SIR,

This extract presents a specimen of the Divine procedure, which led to the settlement of Mr. M'Farlane, with the church in Rawden, and of the spirit and manner in which he conducted himself, with the desires and intentions of his heart in settling among them. His anxiety to be useful to the souls of his fellow men in turning them to God, formed a prominent part of the intentions of his heart, and the ends he proposed to himself in the service of the Gospel. In this spirit he at first began his work in his own country, which never forsook him, IT is well known that there are while he was allowed of God to various opinions on the extent of continue his labours, and in every the Redemption of Christ, some place he in some degree obtained maintaining that the death of Christ the desire of his heart. Wherever was a universal, or general redempthe work of conversion was going tion, intended alike for all; others on under his ministry, he felt that it was particular in its design, toward that spot, and spoke of it and ultimately effectual only for as his "home," but if for any the Elect. Hence the terms unilength of time it seemed to sub-versal, or general,—and particular side, he began to hesitate whether redemption. it were not his duty to remove DR. WHITBY, one of the coolest elsewhere. Others have felt in the and best informed writers on the same manner in similar circum- Arminian side of the question, stances, who have not been able gives us the following statements: to decide that it was their duty to" When I say Christ died for all, remove from their present station, I mean that he died equally for and yet, perhaps, it was an error all." He afterwards acknowledges, in them to remain, for we know" equally for Judas and for Peter." that a change has sometimes been" He died for all conditionally, or of advantage, both as it respected so as that they should be made

partakers of the blessings of his (Christ's) salutary passion, upon condition of their faith, repentance, and sincere obedience to the laws of the New Covenant." "He only by his death hath put all men in a capacity of being justified, and pardoned, and so of being reconciled to, and having peace with God, upon their turning to God, and having faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, &c."-Whitby's Dis. on the Five Points, pp. 107, 108, 109. London, 1710.

Many parts of God's word assert that the coming of Christ was not to make an experiment, but to accomplish a design. He came to save his people--they were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. There is also a manner in which they are spoken of that is very striking; the Lord is represented as standing in various important relations to those whom he came to save, sometimes as being responsible for them, at other times as allied by the most endearing What we mean by particular re-ties. Thus, "I know my sheep, demption is, that the death of Christ and am known of mine; my as an atonement, was in the view Father, who gave them me, is and design both of himself and of greater than all, &c.; this is the his Father, for the salvation of the Father's will who hath sent me, Elect; so that the reason why he that of all that he hath given me came and died was, that he might I should lose nothing, but raise redeem those given him by his Father, and bring them to eternal glory, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth.

Here let it be observed, that the subject of discussion is not a question of power; not whether Christ could have redeemed more, had it been the will of God that more should be saved; nor whether his blood was not sufficient for that purpose; but a question concerning the design of the Deity, and thus it is intimately connected with the doctrine of Election. On this subject the following considerations appear to me deserving of

attention.

I. The Scriptures speak of the end of Christ's coming and dying, as not uncertain, but known and definite.

Those who adopt the system of general redemption, will probably reply, that the word of God also speaks of the death of Christ as being for all, and for every man ; and a thorough partizan of either opinion will clamour for the sense of the passages which seem on one side only the fair way, however, is to look at both.

it up again at the last day; all that the Father giveth me shall come unto me; I pray for them, I

pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine; thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

So when the apostle Paul was speaking of the marriage contract, he exhibits it as an image of the relationship between Christ and his church; "He loved the church and gave himself for it." In the Epistle to the Corinthians, he says, "Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price;" to the Galatians, "who loved me, and gave himself for me;" to Titus, "who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, &c. ;" and in the book of the Revelations, one strain of the song of those who are saved is, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood." The sentiment that runs through these and similar passages is, in my view, more than any description of a mere general redemption