tude; and the cause for which he and they toiled and suffered, however much on certain mincr points they may have lacked light and breadth of appreciation of truth and charity, is still one, in the main, unchangeably precious to all who love the coming and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. The Covenanters were stalwart religious men, saw the grand outline of Christianity to consist in its scriptural enunciation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and undeviating adherence to him even unto death; its Churchianity to lie in its spiritual, godly, unpretending, unprelatical elders, deacons, and members; and to maintain these against all comers, to the glory of God, for their own salvation, and their country's well-being, with a firm hand and an unflinching heart, they were resolute even unto death. You may pity such men if you will, you may blame them, you may talk of their ignorance and jeer at their narrowness; but you cannot help admiring them, as you see them sternly bearing up against the pelting storm, and amid a hurricane of ruthless persecution bidding defiance to its every blast. There in the past they stand, for what they esteemed God's truth, against Popery, Prelacy, Priestcraft, and Political Tyranny-great Giants! whose deeds will never cease to be lessons, their memories to be living epistles, or their names to be blessed household words.

In considering the life and labours of such a man as Mr. Peden, we must not apply to him the ordinary rules of judgment. He was no common man, and was called to no common work. He was a remarkable man, raised up for a remarkable time. Many persons may be ready to smile at his prophetical propensity, and to doubt much that has been said concerning him. We have only presented our readers with carefully selected specimens of what have been adjudged to him, both oral and recorded, in the districts of Scotland where he was wont to labour. We will not repeat our opinion, already given, concerning the amount of inspiration afforded by God, in times needing large shares of spiritual direction and influence. We know but little, as yet, of the ways in which Jehovah may reveal his love to his people, in the bestowal of the residue of the Spirit, which is with Him. We are yearly learning to stand still, and to mark the ways of the Lord in regard to the work of the Spirit. With a holy, prayerful man, such as Mr. Peden was no wild enthusiast, no self-secking leader of a sect, anxious to leave his name as the shibboleth of a party of New Lights, but a humble preacher of the Cross, who, for nearly forty years, went about continually doing good, there could be no attempt at deception-no motive for seeking to deceive. He wrought no miracle, he attempted to work none: the Lord gave him a

great insight into the future, both in regard to persons and events; and his aim was to use all his powers for God, the comfort of his people, and the furtherance of his cause.

That Mr. Peden was a man of distinguished ability, as well as worth and devotedness, the large share of attention which his memory has commanded, and the large space in the public mind which his name has so long occupied, are sufficient proofs. No man cuts out for himself so prominent a niche in the temple of his country's memories, or writes so indelibly the letters of his name upon its rocks, or leaves so ineffaceably his footprints for ages upon its soil, without being a strong as well as a good man. Mr. Peden was both, and his works praise him. Wherever he went he attracted attention, and could not be hid. His soul was on fire for God and his cause. To speak, to act, to suffer for the Saviour was his daily food. His religion was in him a life, ever going out in spiritual well-doing, and he never ceased to have an audience, or to make known the mind of his God till he was called to his rest. His pastorate was no sinecure; his mission was to preach, and the Lord gave him the three kingdoms for his parish. Who can tell how many souls he had for his hire, how many seals to his ministry? The day must reveal it.

Farewell! Alexander Peden. Thou art with

A A

Richie now!

Yea! with Jesus. Beyond the

scene of strife thou hast entered into rest. How sweet is rest to the weary! How joyous is heaven to thee! The conflict in which thou sharedst a distinguished part still continues below, the strife not so bloody, nor the spirit so bitter, but the struggle is as resolute, and requires as bravely to be borne. We want many an Alexander Peden yet. "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he may send more labourers into the harvest." Rest, warrior of the Cross, gently rest. Thy Lord sways the sceptre, and "he must reign till all his enemies are made his footstool."

CHAPTER XXIII.

SUNSHINE.

"Then came the day,

The day that many thought would never come,
That all the wicked wished should never come,
That all the righteous had expected long."

ONE morning, late in the month of December, 1688, Mr. Brownlee, of Torfoot, now frail and old, stood by the fireside, leaning on the top of his staff. He seemed engaged in deep thought; over his open, manly countenance camé at times a shade, as if he were reviewing scenes and seasons of bloodshed and death, all but too much for him to bear. The big tear trickled down his furrowed cheek; he sank back into his arm-chair, and, thinking aloud to himself, said,-" They are all gone! Peden and Paton, Cargill and Cameron, Morton and Hackston, and the young and hopeful Renwick, too, has joined Hugh M'Kail and John Brown; and I am spared to lament their departure and the dark days which still continue. Oh! when will the Lord appear for his Church, and this troubled land of ours? Is there to be no peace, no end to persecution? But I shall soon see the abomination of desolation' no more; my