MEMOIRS,

&c. &c.

IT has long been a common observation with Christians, that, among the great number of pious books which daily teem from the press, few or none are perused with more pleasure and profit, by the religious world, than those which give a genuine and incontestable proof of the power of divine grace in the conversion of a sinner, from the pollutions of corrupt nature to a holy newness of life in Christ Jesus; or which beautifully and comfortably illustrate the more than fatherly care and infinite pity of the Almighty, in his various and wonderful providential dealings with some of his favoured people. If, from what I have experienced myself, I may be allowed to answer for others, I frankly con

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-fess I have reaped more real benefit, and enjoyed more soul-purifying pleasure, in reading the Life of Colonel Gardiner, Hervey, or Newton, than from the studious perusal of a whole body of doctrinal divinity; and have received more solid comfort from one hour's spiritual conversation with some experienced and humble child of God, than ever I did from long and learned disputes on contested points of theology.

This prevailing consideration, as already mentioned, inseparably connected, I trust, with a single eye to the glory of God, first led me to form the resolution of throwing in my mite towards increasing the Christian's biographical library.

I am well aware, that some who may peruse this Narrative will be disappointed at not finding so much of the marvellous in it, as perhaps they expected on reading the title page; but sure I am, the wellexperienced Christian, whose eyes are opened by divine grace, will perceive the finger of God as distinctly in the common incidents it contains, as in the more re

markable events dispersed through it; though they most probably will produce little more than momentary astonishment in the carnal mind. Believers in general lose much comfort by not carefully watching the footsteps of Providence in common incidents; which are sometimes big with future designs of the highest importance, and are always fraught with rich displays of their dear Redeemer's love. While in a state of nature, carelessly gliding down the stream of dissipation, I never once regarded those things which befel me, in any other light than as matters of course, or of accident, trivial in their nature and consequences, which in no respect demanded my attention: but, through grace, having since been better taught, I now stand amazed at my former blind stupidity; and from a deliberate review of the various occurrences in my past existence, can as plainly discover the supporting and protecting arm of my heavenly Father, as I at this moment do the most conspicuous objects by the light of the noon-day sun. Circumstances which formerly appeared

as blanks in my life, now stand forth and vindicate the conduct of the wise and sovereign Disposer of all things; clearly proving from subsequent events that they really were of the utmost importance, and that on them depended the whole of my present and future happiness. I therefore humbly hope, the disciple of Jesus Christ who delights to walk closely with his Master, and whose happy privilege it is, by the light of the Spirit, carefully to mark, and sweetly to meditate upon, the gracious leadings of Divine Providence, with respect to his own soul, will not disdain to learn how the same almighty arm, in infinite mercy, hath led a poor fellow-traveller through many a rough and thorny path.

It can be of little use to mention here, the particular time and place of his birth*. "God is no respecter of persons." But surely there is a debt of gratitude due from me, and many thousands more, to

*He was born 8th September, 1742, at Astruther, in Fifeshire.

the great Source of Being, for giving us an existence in this highly favoured isle, under the bright shining of the everlasting Gospel! Who dare presume to say, that as a sovereign, He might not as justly have ranked us among the ignorant Hottentots, or brought us into being among the savage inhabitants of New Holland? I am afraid, very few even of God's children put a sufficient estimate upon this blessing. Because it is common to this generation, in this part of the world, it is either slighted, or forgotten; but it ought to be remembered, that it is not common to all the human race. To have a just idea of its value, we need but cast the eye of reflection a few centuries back, and behold what gross ignorance, superstition, and more than midnight darkness, covered the poor untutored inhabitants of this land. Multitudes did not know there was such a book as the Bible in the world; numbers more could not obtain a sight of it in a language they understood; and the very few that did, after spending many painful years in the study of the respective lan