greatly prostrated. His work on this subject was evidently done. He went into the assembly once more, and made an effort to speak again, but it seemed almost a failure.

He was acquitted. But that moment to Mr. M'Dowall seened of less importance than his friends supposed it would he never alluded to it himself; and when others did, he changed the subject as soon as possible.

He seemed wholly absorbed in higher and nobler pursuits. The value of the Bible was a subject of greater magnitude in his estimation than all others. The Sabbath after his acquittal he spent at Sand Lake, NewYork, the place where his brother was preaching.

CHAPTER XXXII.

Last labors and writings-Sickness and death-Testimony of Dr. Brown.

His brother speaks thus of him when there :

"Some weeks before his death he preached three times in this place on the Sabbath, to the great satisfaction of this people. Some observed that he was too heavenly-minded for earth, and should not wonder if God soon removed him from earth to heaven."

"He returned to New-York, and went into his office and arranged all his books and papers; and when asked what he was doing? his answer was-'I must put every thing in order, for I know not what my Master has for me to do.' He then went from place to place-visiting schools-persuading children to read the Bible. He passed three Sabbaths at Williamsburgh-went into Sabbath-schools, there enforcing the same subject, and ob

taining pledges from those who would give them, to read the Bible through.

"He preached in Mr. Wright's church, and there in the most pungent manner enforced on the congregation the importance of reading the Scriptures. As late as November 29th, a collection of facts is found of adults and children who had read the Bible through in so many months or years; and one statement, which he makes with much surprise, is—that he found a clergyman who acknowledged to him he had never read the Bible through in course.

"He passed a night at the house of a friend a short time before his sickness, and expressed his full and free opinions on his favorite subject-the Bible; and added his belief, that societies had done much evil in this one thing, being made a substitute for the Bible, and bearing the heart away from it to a more easy and less self-denying way of serving God than is contained in that book. He insisted a new state of things must take place, or the dark ages would return upon us in a two-fold degree. He became so engaged on the subject, that his friend remonstrated, saying, M'Dowall, you are wild: what new notions are now filling your head?' 'No new notions,' was the answer. My mind, for a long time, has been greatly exercised on this subject, but never till within a few months have I been led into a clear and full belief of its importance. Christians must return to the apostolic practices, if they would have an apostolic church. They must cease this rage of money-making as the best means of building up the church; Christ has no where enjoined it; he instituted no such practice for his disciples; and the apostles built no church on such a foundation."

LAST WRITINGS.

After the rising of the Synod, Mr. M' Dowall seemed to be "setting his house in order," not knowing, as he ex

pressed it, what his Master might call him to do. After having adjusted the papers in his office, he applied himself to the Bible, exhorting others to do the same, and visited different places in the vicinity of New-York, to persuade men, women, and children, to read the Bible.

His mind, for some time previous, had been exercised on the plan of preaching the Gospel to every creaturecomparing the present mode of sending it abroad into "all the earth," and the injunction of the Savior, to provide neither "gold nor scrip." He finally came to the result, that, until Christians read the Bible more, and were baptized with the Holy Ghost, all the gold and silver in the earth could never effect this great work; and when this should be understood aright, and Christians should take the Bible for the only standard, and be baptized with this baptism, then the Gospel would be preached without the aid of missionary societies, or depending solely on the funds collected by them.

Among the items of his last writings were found his views on this subject, together with his renunciation of Presbyterianism, and a little collection of facts on his favorite subject-reading the Bible, bearing date, November 29th, 1836.

"The circumstances of my case are peculiar. The recent sentence of suspension has been reversed. The Presbytery have given notice of their intention to appeal. If they appeal, that appeal cannot be issued until May, 1837. If the sentence of the Synod be sustained, then the prosecution ordered by the Synod must be commenced, and it may not be terminated, in Presbytery, in 1838.

"Again, an appeal may be made, first to Synod, and then to the General Assembly, in 1839, and all these years I must remain in doubt, be harassed, and live as I can. This is, to my mind, a gloomy picture; and on the can

vas I seem to see myself hunted as a partridge upon the mountains,' all along the road to my grave."

"How shall I employ my time? Engage in what I will, the Presbytery may arrest my labors at any moment they please, whether the Presbytery appeal or not, this evil must exist as a formidable barrier in my way.

"It will be recollected, that in 1834, by the advice of the Third Presbytery, I withdrew from the management of the publication of my Journal, which I transferred to the New-York Female Moral Reform Society. The Presbytery disapproved of my laboring in the cause. Probably they will not object to my reading the Bible, and that I may both search the Scriptures and labor to induce others to do the same.

"I have passed through years of toil; been supported some part of the time by alms; and often these alms have been scanty for the support of my family, into which I had taken many a forlorn and motherless child.

To labor with my hands, and earn my bread by the sweat of my brow, is honorable business, and, like Paul, I am not averse to it, but desirous, if not of making tents, at least of making something that shall be useful to mankind, and provide something for my family. But I am not a mechanic, nor was I educated for a merchant's counting-room. Still, agriculture opens a wide field for labor, and here I may yet find a quiet retreat from the strife of tongues.' It is good to trust in the Lord at all times. He that putteth his trust in God shall never be confounded. Take no thought, saying, what shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and wherewithal shall ye be clothed: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. When the children of Israel were going up out of Egypt, their clothes waxed not old, and manna was their daily bread. The widow's barrel of meal and cruse of oil failed not during the famine; and ravens fed the prophet in the wilderness.

"Till heaven and earth pass, not one jot or tittle of his word shall fail. The hearts of all are in the hands of the Lord, and it is easy for him to dispose them to execute his will.

"During my warfare I have found comfort in reading the Holy Scriptures, and their value has been enhanced in my estimation.

RENUNCIATION OF PRESBYTERIANISM.

"1st. I believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Tes tament to be the word of God; the only infallible rule of faith and practice.

"2d. I do sincerely receive and adopt the system of doctrines taught by the inspiration of God in the Holy Scrip

tures.

"3d. I approve of the discipline of the church as stated in the New Testament.

"4th. I promise scriptural subjection to my brethren in the Lord.

"5th. I believe that Jesus Christ has called, and commissioned me to preach his Gospel.

"6th. I renounce all human creeds, and confessions of faith and practice.

"7th. I do not approve of the government and discipline of the Presbyterian church; and the recent decision of the Synod of New-York declares, in these words, that in the judgment of this Synod, no man can be lawfully a minister (or ruling elder) in the Presbyterian church, who has not approved and does not approve of her government and discipline.

"8th. I must stand in judgment before Jesus Christ, and render to him a strict account. Who art thou that condemnest another man's servant? To his own master he shall stand or fall. Yea, he shall be holden up, for God is able to make him stand.