feffor in divinity in St. Andrews But that reverend judicatory did in February 1710, refer the affair to the provincial fynod of Fife, which was to meet at St. Andrews in April thereafter; and the matter being gravely debated before the fynod, and the people of Ceres fully heard in what they had to fay; the defire of the college upon her majesty's patent was granted without a contradictory vote.

Upon the whole, Mr, Halyburton had the following reflections,

As to this affair, it feems to be of the Lord: For, 1. The firft rife of it was without any thing fo much as a thought in me.

2. The Lord croffed all other attempts, and difappointed other profpects which they had to others.

3. The Lord kept my fpirit, and held me fo by the hand, that I durft give no infinuation or encouragement that way.

4. The defires of many that feared the Lord run this way.

5. The Lord laid his hand on me, and therein feem'd to fay, I was not like to be able for the work in the prefent large congregation.

6. As the Lord began it with me, fo he did carry it on, over obftructions remarkably enough.

7. I had no reafon to doubt the fingleness of any concerned, and who acted in it.

8. When I began to compare the tract of the Lord's dealing with me, and the courfe of my studies, I could not deny, that there might be fomething in it. 9. My people, whenever the matter appeared, began to faint.

10. Their confciences were affected with the preponderating evidence of the reasons as was mine; tho' inclination lay cross.

11. The Lord condefcended to bring the matter to a decifion of the most competent judicatory..

12. The Lord condefcended to clear me as to fub

miffion

miffion, I. By that which I refolved, after ferious eying the Lord. viz. That fince there was a prefent harmony betwixt me and the congregation, I fhould go as far as they inclin'd. 2. This being propos'd in a full meeting, (viz, of the elders) they all unanimously declar'd they defign'd to acquiefce in the fentence of the fynod. 3. It was my defire to the Lord, that there might be fome evidence of the Lord attending the determination; and I dare not deny, but that even beyond expectation, to the conviction of all my own people, there was, 1. Evidently a great weight on the fpirits of the members about light. 2. The Lord was remarkably with Mr Hog, who prayed before the vote. 3. When I retired, I cried to the Lord, that if the matter was not for his glory, he might put a remarkable stop to it: If it was, that he might carry it on in a way, that might give evidence of himfelf. 4. The fynod inverted the course of the rolls, cafting St. Andrew's and Coupar laft, that two prefbyteries, that were not interested, might be firft. 5. There was not one contradictory vote; only the prefbetery of Coupar forbore to vote, becaufe they could not vote against the transportation, and would not irritate the parish. 6. When all this was intimated, it was done with a convincing light by Mr Grierfon the moderator pro tempore. The will of the Lord be done. I had peace and compofure in my own mind, the Lord condefcending even beyond expectation. • Now Lord fit for what thou doft evidently call to."

Upon April 26th, 1710, He was by the principal of the new college admitted profeffor of divinity there; and delivered his inaugural difcourfe in confutation of an atheistical pamphlet, intituled, epiftola Archimedis ad regem Gelonem.

Being admitted profeffor, he enjoyed not much found health in the exercife of that office: For in the beginning of April 1711. He was fuddenly feized with a dangerous pleurifie, which obliged his phyficians

to take from him a vast quantity of blood: And tho' he was relieved of that disease, yet he never fully recovered his former strength by reason of the indisposition of his ftomach, and frequent vomiting, which prevented the regular fupply of blood for the nourishment of his body. Hereupon enfued, in the following winter a coldness, fwelling and stiffness in his legs, with frequent and exceffively painful cramps. But besides his bodily indifpofition, the grievances of the church of Scotland, did not a little add to his trouble. His fpirit was much weighted with the melancholly news of the toleration, and reftoring the power of presentations unto patrons; and no lefs with the impofing of the oath of abjuration upon minifters, from the apprehenfions he had of the fad effects that might follow upon their different fentiments about the lawfulness of that oath. He freely declared his own opinion in the meeting of the fynod at St. Andrews, April 1712. And in conferences of the prefbytery upon that matter. He advised, that ministers, after all due means of information, fhould act ac cording to their light. But what he especially endeavoured to inculcate, as he had access, was, that the difference among them about the meaning of an expreffion in that oath, gave no juft ground for any alienation of affection, or for divifion and feparation, either among ministers or people.

An account of fome of the last words of the Rev erend Mr. Thomas Halyburton profeffor of Divinty in St. Andrews on death-bed, Septem ber--17.12.

Ednesday September 17th, when a friend came and asked him in the morning, how he had

reft.

refted the bygone night? He anfwered, not well; and told, he had this night been fore toffed with the thoughts of eternity; but faid he, Idare not fay they were distracting. My evidences are much clouded indeed. I have been thinking on * terribilia Dei,and all that's difficult in death to a faint. All my enemies have been round about me I have had a great conflict and faith like to fail. O ! that I may be kept now in this last trial, that's enfuing, from being an offence to his people,

i. e. The terrible things of

GOD.

Afternoon, when fome of his brethren came in to vifit him, he said to them, I'm but young, and have little experience; but this death-bed now makes me old; and therefor I use the freedom to exhort you to faithfulnefs in the Lord's work. Ye will never repent this. He is a good master; I have always found him fo; if I had a thousand lives, I would think them all too little to imploy in his fervice.

All this whole day, and fome days proceeding, he was under a cloud and difertion.

September 18, When a friend returned to afk him, how he was in the morning; he broke filence with these words, O what a terrible conflict had I yesterday! But now I can fay I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith. Now he has filled my mouth with a new fong, Jehovah-jireth, in the mount of the Lord, &c. Praife, praise is comely for the upright.' Shortly I shall get another fight of God than ever I had, and be more meet to praife him than ever. O the thoughts of an incarnate God are fweet and ravifhing! And O! how do I wonder at myself, that I do not love him more, that I do not admire him more O that I could honour him! What a wonder that I enjoy fuch compofure under all my bodily trouble, and in view of approaching death! O what a mercy that I have the use of my reafon till I have declared his goodness

to me!

Το

To his wife, he faid, he came to me in the third watch of the night walking upon the waters,' and he faid to me, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I was dead and am alive, and live for evermore, and have the keys of hell and death' and added, he ftill'd the tempe(t, and O there's a fwest calm in my foul!

Thereafter, when defired to be tender of his health, he faid, I'll ftrive to last as long as I * i.e.fpendit can, and I'll get my reft ere it be long. thriftily and I have no more to do with my time, piece-meal. teap it out for the glory of

but to God.

Then he said, I'll fee my redeemer stand on the earth' at the last day; but I hope to fee him before that, the Lamb in the midst of the throne,

+beautiful. O it will be a t bony company,

The fpirits of juft men made perfect, and Jefus the mediator of the covenat!' O for grace,grace, to be patient to the end, Then he defir'd a minifter

to pray.

After prayer, he call'd for a little water to wash his eyes, and faid I hope to get them wafhen,and made like dove's eyes; and then farewell fin, farewell forrow.

In a little, when taking fome refreshment, he faid, ye fee I am eating heartily here. I get fleep from him, and I get food and drink from him, and I'll get himself. My heart and my fleth fails: But God is the ftrength of my heart and my portion for ever, c. but we have need of patience.'

6

When one faid, keep the light of the window from him, it may hurt his eyes: He faid truly light is fweet, and a pleasant thing to behold the fun,' the fun of righteoufnefs, O brave light,where the lamb is the light of that temple! We cannot have a conception of it now; 'eye has not feen, nor ear heard, &c. Seeing his youngest child, he caufed bring her to him, and faid, Mady, my dear, the Lord bless you ;

the