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BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

MEMOIR OF

FEBRUARY, 1827.

(Continued from p. 6.)

THE LATE MR. PETER my regard for them constrains me
MCFARLANE.
to tarry a little longer, to see what
the Lord may have to do. My
thoughts are frequently towards
my native soil, and sometimes, I
think, should I live long, it is pro-
bable, my days will be ended
somewhere in the North. But I
wish to be passive in the Lord's
hand, and found doing what is

again, on the 11th of January, 1815, he writes, "When I was last at

CHIEFLY on account of the little success attending his ministry at Rawden, Mr. M. removed from it to Trowbridge, in Wiltshire, in the winter of 1816. Whatever opinion may be formed of the propriety of this step, his general character well pleasing in his sight." And will to all, and especially to those who knew him most intimately, be a voucher for the purity of his motives, and that he would not act lightly in the matter we are sure he did not act hastily; his own confidential letters to a friend in Scotland, to whom he was accustomed to unbosom himself, will best describe the influence under which he acted in this removal. Writing under date of the 25th of August, 1814, he says, The church under my care has had but little prosperity of late, we have rather decreased than otherwise. I cannot say that my ministry appears to have been blessed to the conversion of sinners, for a considerable time back, a circumstance which has made me question the propriety of continuing long at Rawden. Ought a fisherman continue satisfied in one place, if he is catching no fish? Ought he not rather to shift his net, and try if any are to be had in some other place? I intimated last spring to my people my intention to leave them, and try what God had to do for me some other where, if they were willing to give their consent, but that they would not do, and VOL. II. 3d Series.

they talked to me of settling with them should I leave Rawden, and be directed to Scotland, I should choose to be either there, or somewhere in the vicinity of the Highlands, as with a little application I shall soon be able to preach in the Gaelic tongue. Oh! for wisdom to direct. Things are much as usual with us at Rawden; the state of religion too much resembles the present season of the year; would to God that as spring approaches we might also have a spring, a soul-reviving, quickening, and refreshing season to our souls! the Lord is all-sufficient, and he is merciful and gracious. Pray for us, and especially for me, that I may speak boldly as I ought, in holding forth the word of life. Should things continue as they are much longer, I think I shall be justified in shifting my tent; but I would not act with precipitation, I hope the Lord will guide me aright."

In the month of June, 1815, the Baptist Church in Back-street, Trowbridge, hearing that Mr. M'Farlane's mind was unsettled re

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specting his remaining with the is united, and increasing in num

"God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform."

church in Rawden, invited him to bers. I enjoy a portion of pleasure preach among them for four weeks, in my work, and have reason to and afterwards to spend three, six, believe I do not labour altogether or twelve months with them, within vain. When the time came that a view to taking the oversight of I was to leave Rawden, it was a them; immediately on receiving painful and trying season indeed; an invitation to visit Trowbridge a such another time I never wish to second time, he wrote to his friend experience, but it has turned out, in the north as follows: "I feel I hope, for the furtherance of the quite at a loss what to do; you Gospel of Christ. know my mind has been unhinged for a good while as to Rawden, nor has any thing transpired as yet to place it on hinge again, though things look better than they did some little time ago. Trowbridge is a situation of very considerable importance, when I compare the prospects there, with what they have been here for some time past, at least, till very lately, or, indeed, with what they are ever likely to be, without some extraordinary revolution; and considering the time and circumstances in which the matter has been laid before me, I can scarcely help thinking there is a providential hand in it. Still I am in a strait: I should be glad to have you to consult with; bear me on your mind at the throne of grace. No decisive steps will be taken for some time. I hope the Lord will direct. My heart is in Scotland; but I have a family to enter into business would answer no good end, as far as the cause of Jesus is concerned, and to be burtheusome to others I could not bear."

And the longer I live, I see more and more the importance of attending to that admirable injunction, Acknowledge me in all thy ways,' &c. It is a great mercy to be kept in the right way, and to have the comfortable sense of having God with us in it. What can we do alone? and where should we wander to if left alone? We should have poor doings, but for that encouraging saying, 'Lo, I am with you always.' Through the strength of Him who thus spake, and still speaks, what can we not do and bear? May he be our guide, our portion, and our all.”

Mr. McFarlane's tendencies towards his native country have been often mentioned, and in the year 1819, he thus writes to his friend in Scotland: "The matter has often occupied my mind since I came to England, and especially since my last visit to the north. The state of my relatives and companions, together with a variety of things, Mr. McFarlane removed to Trow-press very powerfully upon me at bridge in Dec. 1815. Writing of times, and seem to urge me to this event in the following Sep-return to the land of my nativity. tember, he says, "The particulars Still I am in a strait, and am not of my removal I have not time at present to relate, only that it took place in the beginning of last winter, and that I have increasing reason to be satisfied that the hand of God was in it. My ministry is well attended; the church of God

certain that it would be right to leave my present station; but all things considered, I think I should be justified in submitting the propriety of such a measure to the decision of the church. You can write your mind freely upon the

<6 Oh! for a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame!" Soon after this, what he anticipated came to pass: he gave up his connection with the church in Back-street, and another Chapel was built for him and his friends in Trowbridge who united with him. In his former situation he hoped he had not laboured altogether in vain; the congregation was numerous, and many members were added to the church. But surely God gave evident testimony to the word of his grace by him in his new situation, in edifying and uniting a number of the fearers of the Lord together, and in turning the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. The writer of this brief Memoir spent a few days with him and his friends, in the summer of 1823, and was gratified to see what God had wrought by his ministry, and done for him

matter." Whether he had become which results from communion uncomfortable in Trowbridge at with God!" this period he does not mention, but in a following letter of the 20th of Feb. 1820, he again introduces the subject, and makes some slight allusion to this, saying, "I have still the same thoughts relative to my native country as when you heard from me last. I am now in the meridian of life, and if I am likely, under God, to be the instrument of doing any good in forwarding the cause of Zion there, it must be when health and strength are enjoyed for labour: it is a subject that has long, often, and strongly affected, and wrought on my mind. I fully agree with you in your sentiments respecting the removal of a minister it is certainly no trivial affair, but a matter of great importance; the cause of God, however, has often been promoted by it, and the good of that cause should most assuredly be the predominating motive in such a step, and not emolument and ease; circum- and his affectionate friends, with stances in providences, if carefully the prospects of future usefulness, observed, will generally be found which this infant cause presented. to pave the way. Existing cir- About two years afterwards he cumstances here, seem to me, at visited them again, and enjoyed present, to make it doubtful as to renewed happiness in seeing such the propriety of remaining much an increase both of the church longer among them, and you would and congregation, notwithstanding be like-minded if you knew all. the deep affliction and continued My coming to Trowbridge has infirmities of his esteemed friend, contributed not a little, I hope, to and fellow labourer in the kingdom my advantage, both as a Christian of Christ, of whose unabated attachand a minister, affording me an ment he was now to receive the last opportunity of learning what has, expressions, and enjoy the final conand will be for my good; my firmation of his own regard. He saw proud heart needed humbling, and with concern the debilitated state to be drawn from empty cisterns of his dear friend, and was not a to the fountain of living water, the little affected with his peculiar infulness of our dear Emanuel. firmities, though he was still Never have I seen more of the im- labouring as usual, and with his portance, or enjoyed more of the accustomed contentment and cheersupports and sweet influence of fulness, so that while his peculiar the doctrines of the cross than of weaknesses must have been sensilate. How great the blessedness bly felt by himself, they seemed to

affect him less than any one else. | haustion in the evening. He was His resignation was too manifest to gradually reduced to great debirequire being mentioned by him; it lity; it was almost that of entire shone forth in his general spirit, helplessness and dependence, yet and particular gratitude that other he was enabled to maintain a parts of his body had not been the cheerful and submissive state of seat of his infirmities, which might mind, and appeared to indulge a have more unfitted him for the prevailing hope that he should at a service of his master, and also that future period resume his loved he was restored in any degree to employment. The Bath waters his beloved employment. Indeed, were resorted to in the winter, but his Christian meekness, patience, with little effect: his last communiand contentment under his trials cation to his chief correspondent in were much fitted, and were in some in Scotland, was from that place, degree felt both to reprove and dated 24th of Jan. 1826; in which edify. His usual deep and active he says, "With regard to myself, interest in the affairs of the king- I am considerably worse than dom of Christ were as palpable when you saw me, and am now at and powerful as ever, if not more Bath for the benefit of its waters. so; perhaps, it shone the brighter Have not preached now for seven through his sinking frame. An weeks. Should I not get better, opportunity was given for the ma- it is much if my work be not now nifestation of this at an annual nearly done. I am very feeble inmeeting of the Wilts Home Mis- deed, but I still hope that the sionary Society in Trowbridge. waters here may be of use, by the At that period, he exceedingly blessing of God, as I find that enjoyed the services of that occa-many persons have been benefited sion, and manifested the deepest by them, who were affected in a interest in them all, so much so, similar manner to myself. My that he anticipated a season of heavenly Father knows best how sinking and lassitude after so much to dispose of me and mine. He excitement as he had felt. But does all things well, and I wish to his labours and excitements by say, His will be done.' My either joy or sorrow were about to Christian love to yourself, family, terminate, and all his active inte- and Christian friends. I subscribe rest in things below the paradise myself, by the hands of my son, of God, were soon to close, and your afflicted friend and brother, therefore like the sun he seemed largest at his setting.

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PETER M'FARLANE."

The illness which terminated his Mr. McFarlane returned to Trowuseful life commenced nearly twelve bridge, contemplating another trial months before that event took of the Bath waters as the spring place, in a partial failure of mus- advanced. The day had been cular strength, though it did not fixed for his return, but before that interrupt his ministerial duties, till day arrived the hand of God had about four months before his death; laid him low. On Thursday, three he preached with vigour a long days before his death, Mrs. M'Farwhile after he could scarcely turn lane having served him with his over the leaves of his Bible, and dinner, as he had not been able to the last Sabbath he occupied the help himself in any way for some pulpit he went through three ser- weeks, went up stairs intending, vices, with only an extreme ex-after having arranged some things

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to return, but was never permitted | his heart to listen to it unmoved; to see him more. On that even-he burst afresh into tears, and ing she became the mother of two said, "Ah! that desire of my little boys. He took a lively inte- heart is at last fulfilled; for seven rest in their birth, and when years I have wished to see it acbrought to him, he smiled on them, complished, but I must not be wept, and blessed them. How there: I have attended and enmuch of strongly excited feeling joyed many such meetings, but I entered into the cause of so rapid am thankful that it is done." Then an appearance of alarming symp- as if bursting from the shackles that toms in him, is not known; to no drew his interests and affections perceptible cause was it traceable, towards things below, he rose to but a painful affection of the chest heavenly contemplations, and with suddenly appeared, attended by eyes lifted up to heaven, repeated distressing sickness, and difficulty the 24th verse of the 73d Psalm, in breathing, with extreme general" Thou shalt guide me with thy weakness; the symptoms were counsel, and afterward receive me partially relieved by prompt medi- to glory," and by an affecting cal aid, but it failed to repel the soliloquy on the passage, regained approach of death: how far he was his accustomed serenity and cheeraware it was so near, is not certain, fulness. Thy way," said he, as he was in the habit of conceal-" is dark, perplexing, and uning feelings which would distress known, and I may be disposed to his dearest friends. It appeared, look at it and say, All these however, to a friend who saw him things are against me;' but I bewhen these alarming symptoms lieve they are all for me. There first shewed themselves, that the is a state of glory; I expect to go struggle which he endured from the to glory, and I believe this is the contending claims of earthly and way to it; therefore I will say with heavenly objects, was for a time the Psalmist, Thou shalt guide great and overwhelming; he burst me with thy counsel, and afterinto tears, and with a feeble, in-wards receive me to glory.'" terrupted articulation said, "I On the afternoon of Lord's day, have never been so ill." He at- Mr. Edmonson, who had been suptempted to speak on several sub-plying his pulpit, called, and to his jects, but was too much overcome enquiries with regard to the state to proceed, or to be understood; of his mind, scarcely able to speak, he then endeavoured to rouse him- he replied, " Quite calm and reself, and continued, "Do not signed." From that time no appathink I am distressed, I am not rent uneasiness disturbed his mind; distressed, but He then but that peaceful expression dwelt attempted to utter the name of his on his countenance by which it was wife, his children, his church, in- generally characterised, until He in terrupted by sobs, and becoming whose hand is the power of life less able to speak as he proceeded. and death, changed that counteThe friend who was then en- nance and sent him away! He deavouring to draw his attention died about four o'clock on Monday to more general subjects, referred to a County Missionary Association about to be formed, gave him some account of the arrangements of its services, but this also lay too near

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morning, the 27th of March, leaving Mrs. M'Farlane in a most critical state, with the charge of seven children, the two babes only three days old! - unconscious of

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