stances called for. And it was his peculiar care to endear the ways of God to the youth of his parish, and give them early impressions of an eternal world, before the devil and their lusts had seized upon their hearts, and enslaved them: and the seed of grace, that was thus sown during the spring of life, was, through the divine blessing, preserved in many as they advanced in years, and brought forth much fruit. Nor did Mr. Guthrie neglect, in visiting poor families, to join works of charity to his instructions, and imitate his great Master, in showing compassion both to the bodies and souls of men. By all which winning methods he engaged their esteem and affections, which could not fail to add a mighty force to his exhortations and reproofs.

He excelled also in that useful mean of knowledge, catechising; and avoided those mistakes, in the management of this exercise, which frequently lessen the advantage thercof. His questions were mostly confined to such truths of the doctrine according to godliness as were recommended by their great importance, and extensive influence upon practical religion; herein confining himself to the apostolical injunction, by insisting upon these things which were good and profitable unto men, and avoiding foolish and trifling questions that were vain and useless: and knowing that it was his business to feed the meanest and weakest of the Christian flock with wholesome instructions, he adapted these exercises to the lowest capacities; began with the most easy and obvious truths of religion, and

so prepared the way for those which required a more enlightened understanding. He was careful not to expose the ignorant, so as to beget a distaste in them of the means of knowledge, nor to confound the modest and bashful, but by his meekness and condescension he encouraged and engaged them; whereby catechising became a pleasure to them and he had the joy to see useful and solid knowledge spreading itself among a people whom he found grossly ignorant.

His own experience in the ways of God, and the great depths of troubles and sorrows, doubts andfears, whereby awakened consciences are exercised, into which, he himself was often plunged, eminentlyqualified him for assistingand comforting others in the like circumstances, for strengthningthe weak hands, and confirming the feeble knees; and could not miss to beget in him that affectionate concern for poor souls, those bowels of tenderness and sympathy, which can never be found with any but such who themselves have had a feeling acquaintance with the methods of the spiritual life, and the work of the Holy Spirit in their own hearts and lives. And it were easy to enlarge upon the uncommon dexterity which this excellent person had in improving sickness, and the approaches of the King of Terrors, to the advantage of those who were exposed to them; so that though instances of a death-bed repentance rarely happen, and it be indeed infinite madness to delay to the last hour that work, which is of eternal consequence, yet there wanted not evidences of the divine blessing upon his endeavors to reclaim sinners, and call them to God, even in the last hour.

It would be justly blameable if we neglected to mention one other noble quality of Mr. Guthrie's. The state of his health made it necessary for him to use frequent and vigorous exercises; and this made him choose fishing and fowling for his common recreations; but as he was always animated by a flaming zeal for the glory of his blessed Master, and a tender compassion to the souls of men, and as it was the principal thing made him desire life and health, that he might employ them in propagating the kingdom of God, and turning transgressors from their evil ways, so the very hours of his recreation were dedicated to this purpose; which was so endeared to him, as he knew how to make his diversions subservient to the nobler ends of his ministry: he made them the occasions of familiarizing his people to him and introducing himself to their affections; and, in the disguise of a sportsman, he gained some to a religious life, whom he could have little influence upon in a minister's gown} of which there happened several memorable examples.

Some of the parish were so extremely rude and barbarous that they never attended upon divine worship, and knew not so much as the face of their pastor; to such, every thing that regarded religion was distasteful; a minister would have been enough to have frightened them, nor could he have access either to visit or catechise them. But what Mr. Guthrie might have almost otherwise have dispaired of, he effectuated by his diversions: in the habit which he then wore, he conciliated the esteem and love even of ́

those ignorant creatures, made use of their curiosity,as well as of nobler arguments, to bring them to the church, and enter them into the paths of salvation; so that the pulpit was the first place which discovered to them that it was their minister himself who had allured them thither; and so condescending a method of gaining them, procured a constant attendance upon public ordinances, and was at length accompained by the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ unto the praise of God. Thus, in imitation of the great apostle, being crafty, he caught them with guile. And this heavenly wisdom and dexterity will be one day celebrated with juster applauses by the assembly of the first-born, than the cunningest stratagems, or the bravest attempts, which raise the character of princes and generals, whose fame flies now swiftest and widest through the world.

Thus his eminent abilities and unwearied diligence in the work of the ministry, continued to exert themselves with distinguished success; they procured the universal love of his parish; and he lived for one and twenty years in such perfect harmony with his session, that during all that time there happened not the smallest difference betwixt them.

His family affairs were also very easy and comfortable to him. August 1645, he was happily married to Agnes Campbell, daughter to David Campbell of Skeldon, in the shire of Air, a remote branch of the family of Lowdon; a gentlewoman endowed with all these qualities that could render her a blessing to her

husband, having joined to a handsome shape and comely features, good sense and good breeding, sweetened by a modest cheerfulness of temper, and, what endeared her to Mr. Guthrie be. yond every thing else, sincere piety; so that they lived a little more than twenty years in the most complete friendship, and with a constant mutual satisfaction, founded upon the noblest principle, one faith, one hope, one baptism, and a sovereign love to Jesus Christ, which zealously inspired them both. By her he had six children, two of them only out lived him, both daughters, who were eminent for their sincere piety, and endeavoured to follow the example of their excellent parents. One of them was married to Miller, of Glenlee, a gentleman in the shire of Air; and the other was married to the Rev. Mr. Patrick Warner, December 1681, when the tyranny and cruelty of the times were growing to their height; and so she soon became a companion to him in tribulation, imprisonment, and banishment, for the truth's sake, till the glorious revolution, when Mr. Warner was settled minister of the gospel, at Irvine. Both he and she arrived at a great age, in patient waiting till their change. Their children were William Warner, of Adeir, in the shire of Air; and Margaret Warner, who was married to Mr. Robert Wodrow, minister of the gospel at Eastwood, to whom we are obliged for the materials from which this account of Mr. Guthrie's life is composed.

We have given a short account of Mr. Guthrie's eminent ministerial endowments, as they appeared in the discharge of the pastoral office

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