who divide too much the law of nature from the precepts of revelation, and industriously decline the mention of Scripture authorities, as belonging to a different province. In support of this opinion, he quotes, with high approbation, the following sentiment of Dr. Johnson's: "When the obligations of morality are taught," says a pious and celebrated writer, "let the sanctions of Christianity never be forgotten, by which it will be shewn that they give strength and lustre to each other; religion will appear to be the voice of reason, and morality will be the will of God."

About this period a confidential correspondence commenced betwixt Alexander Waugh and a young man of congenial temper, who then belonged to a mercantile house in Berwick, and afterwards settled in the West Indies. He appears to have been animated by a spirit of fervent piety, and to have possessed mental accomplishments greatly superior to his station in life. We insert the two following letters as a specimen of the dispositions of mind which characterised both the writer and the individual to whom they are addressed:

"TO MR. ALEXANDER WAUGH, CALDRON-BRAE. "DEAR SIR,

"As I have not had the pleasure of seeing you at Berwick, will you allow me to request of you, that an epistolary correspondence may take place during the intervals of seeing one another? It would of all things be very grateful to me.-Mrs. Johnstone acquaints me that you propose attending the University another season. I flatter myself it is not solely with a view of venerating

the polite arts; but that you intend dedicating these jewels borrowed from the Egyptians, to the building of the house of the Lord. My dear Sir, see you get intimately acquainted with the Lord of the vineyard, previously to your entering as a labourer. It will sweeten the work vastly, both to yourself and others, and render it pleasant and profitable. Being in haste, I conclude with compliments to your father, mother, and brother;

"And am, dear Sir, your sincere well-wisher,

"GEORGE GRAHAM."

Berwick, August 18, 1773.”

"TO MR. ALEXANDER WAUGH, EDINBURGH.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Berwick, Jan. 1, 1774.

May you enumerate many happy revolutions of this season! May you long be preserved an ornament to religion, a blessing to friends and connexions, a useful member of society, and, after a few prerequisites, a faithful and successful labourer in the Christian church; and, at last, in a good old age, may you exchange a hoary head for an unfading crown of glory, books and symbols, faith and hope, for palms of victory, immediate vision, and full, satisfactory fruition! Unseasonable compliments these to our contemporary Lorenzos!-but what mean our wishing happy new years, unless most part of the above be implied? 'Here is firm footing, here is solid rock; all is sea besides.' It would certainly be a laudable practice, were we to anticipate, in imagination, what Charles Emperor of Germany did really in every circumstance,-I mean the solemnising of our own funeral while in life. We should thus make death familiar to our minds, although he be the king of terrors, and stimulate ourselves to converse with our past hours, and ask them what report they bore to heaven, and how they might have borne more welcome news. But, alas, how epidemical is this distemper!- all men think all men mortal but themselves.' I remember (for although

very young at the time, I never could eradicate the presumptuous speech out of my mind) that a young gentleman, when writing, Jan. 2, 1762,' thus addressed one Mr. M'Donald of Leith, a surgeon, a young man more than six feet high, and stout in proportion, Tammy M'Donald, it is probable we shall be in our graves before 1772.' 'Shall we?' said the person addressed; it will be a grievous disappointment if we be!' Disappointed he was; but whether the event deserved the epithet he bestowed on it, is not my province to determine; for early in 1769 he gave up the ghost, leaving a young widow. Uncertain is life, and happy they that have nothing to do but to die; therefore, my dear friend, while others are murdering time in unlawful pastimes, let us be inquiring into our state before God, and asking ourselves what progress we have made in our Christian course. As another year, that lately smiled, is drowned in that great deep that nothing disembogues;' so let us remember, that the spirit walks of every day deceased, and smiles an angel, or a fury frowns.' I do not tender these as admonitions to you, since I have no doubt but your exercise in practice exceeds this theorem considerably. This is only a faint intimation that, for the future, I intend corresponding with you as a Christian, and not as a scholar; for while you are associated with men of learning and science, I, by reason of the imbecility of my understanding and circumvening mists of ignorance, must stand at the foot of Parnassus friendless."

After continuing four years at the University of Edinburgh, Mr. Waugh was examined by the Presbytery regarding his proficiency in philosophy and the learned languages, in order to his admission to the study of divinity, which he commenced in August 1774, under the tuition of the Rev. John Brown of Haddington, the well-known author of "Annotations on the Bible," and many

other theological works, which discover a deep acquaintance with the Scriptures, and a laborious research into the history of the church.

The following notices of the mode of theological instruction pursued by this eminent man (with which we have been kindly furnished by two of his sons, who have long been faithful and zealous labourers in the vineyard of Christ), will, we conceive, be found interesting to most of our readers.

In the early part of his ministry, he preached catechetical sermons, in the order of the Shorter Catechism and Confession of Faith. From these he formed the first edition of his lectures to his students, which, after writing twice or thrice himself, he caused the students to write also. He composed his "Cases of Conscience," published some time ago, first for his own use, and then employed them in instructing his students; also his "Letters on the Behaviour of Ministers, and on Gospel Preaching." The two latter he also caused the students to transcribe.

For some time the term of study was four years; but by order of the Synod it was extended to five years. He was particularly anxious that the students should be present at the commencement of the session, and remain all the time. The discourses he assigned them were, a homily for the first year; a critical discourse on a passage of the Greek Testament, with a lecture, for the second; for each of the other years a lecture and a popular sermon, the latter being usually delivered in public. The students were accustomed

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to make criticisms on the discourses, after which the professor gave his own remarks. The students carefully committed to memory several pages of the System of Divinity," and of the "Cases of Conscience," with the Scriptures referred to; and he examined them on these every forenoon, and made observations on the passages of Scripture. In the evenings he employed an hour in reading his Church History to them. On the Wednesday afternoon the students formed themselves into a debating society, and maintained an argument regarding orthodox and heterodox doctrines. On the Saturday afternoon a prayermeeting was held. With regard to personal religion, the professor was particularly urgent in impressing it on their minds, as a matter of the greatest magnitude, and of indispensable necessity. He was accustomed to read the practical reflections in the System with peculiar earnestness of manner, and took every opportunity, in the class and elsewhere, to exhort them to practical godliness. The "Reflections of a Candidate for the Ministerial Office," now printed in his

Remains," and the "Christian Student and Pastor," were prepared with a particular view to their instruction.

He carefully inquired after their private conduct during the time of the session, and admonished or rebuked as he saw cause. This was done, however, so privately, that none but the offender knew of it. Though his own finances were but small, he assisted those who through poverty would have been unable to continue all the ses