their glorious resurrection; they are not to be confined in it for ever."

Perhaps the very fact of his having had so much grief, combined with the knowledge that he would gently lead the mourners to look to Him who "bore their griefs," had something to do with the remarkable way in which his ministrations were sought after in times of sorrow. Nor was his sympathy less in times of joy; and, with all of us, to know him was to love him. He was an eloquent and earnest preacher, and his crowded church bore testimony to his popularity both as a friend and as a pastor.

Mr. Drummond received the right hand of fellowship from Archbishops Sumner and Whateley, Bishops Baring, Daly, Villiers, Waldegrave, and many other prelates; and amongst his numerous Christian friends outside his congregation he could number such men as Astley, Bardsley, Bickersteth, Bradley, Bridges, Candlish, Chalmers, Close, Cunningham, Duff, Garbett, Grove, Guthrie, Haldane Stewart, Haldane, M'Neile, Marsh, Miles, Miller, Noel, Nolan, Rainsford, Ryle, Stevenson, Venn, and many more. Many of these friends were removed before him, but numbers are left to mourn the loss of one who was ever an honoured and a loved brother in Christ.

For some years Mr. Drummond's medical adviser observed indications of obscure disease of his heart, and after consultation with Dr. Warburton Begbie, decided that complete relaxation was necessary, and that he ought to give up work and go to the quiet of the country. By following this advice, temporary relief was obtained; but in 1873 he had a very severe attack, and at this time the following letter (found after his death) was written.

TO MY DARLING WIFE,

I

Should it please the Lord to remove me before you, want first in a single line to say to you that, in the midst of great infirmity, and the consciousness of such sin as Paul describes in Romans vii., my one hope, my one resting-place, my one refuge, is Christ Jesus (v. 24, 25). My looks-back to my life and ministry present a blurred, a sad retrospect; it is all mists and shadows as regards what I have done. I only plead for pardon through that blood which cleanseth from all sin; and if there have been some bright spots, some proofs of his Word having become effectual and saving, it has only been through his great mercy and love, in spite of the waywardness and unworthiness of his servant.

I entreat him then to pass by all the past, as far as it is mine, and to take me for ever into his holy and gracious keeping. As a little child I wish to enter within the veil ; as an unworthy, helpless one, I desire to go up through the wilderness leaning on the arm of my beloved. I wish to hear those loving, tender words sounding in my heart, "Fear not," and that gives a confidence which nothing can shake.

I bless God, my darling wife, on every remembrance of you, and I fearlessly commit you to the tender, loving care of the great and glorious bridegroom of the Church; while I bless God for the prospect that, when, as I earnestly, fondly hope to do, I awake up after his image, one of the sweetest, holiest, happiest enjoyments of that image will be the seeing it in its brightness-in you also at my side in his kingdom.

D. T. K. DRUMMOND.

Ultimately it became obvious that the only way in

which health could be restored was by his resigning his charge. In 1875 he accordingly took this step, and the following is an extract from the last address which he gave as Incumbent of St. Thomas' :

BELOVED FRIENDS,

Montpelier, October 11th, 1875

More than thirty years ago, a large company were gathered together in an open area of ground which has been since covered by St. Thomas' Chapel. Much prayer for divine guidance and help had been offered up during many previous weeks, and there, with bowed heads and solemnized hearts, was laid the foundation stone of our sanctuary.

The building rose rapidly, and soon was consecrated by the gathering into it of a people worshipping God. Prayer, mingled with praise, was not restrained but increased, and the first words from the pulpit were-" Except the Lord build the house, their labour is but lost that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." "The good hand of our God upon us" was from the first recognized as the one only sure ground of our confidence and hope.

As regards outward things, God was pleased to bless the efforts of those who guided our affairs, by a steadily increasing prosperity, until, for many years past, no room remained to meet the annual demand for joining the congregation.

But infinitely better than all this, were the increasing tokens, year after year, of the rich blessing of our covenant God on the flock gathered within St. Thomas'. My heart fills when I recall to mind the true-hearted, the faithful, the Christ-like servants of God, who have long been

gathered into the presence of God in the upper sanctuary. I know not whether sorrow or joy predominates in recalling to memory those who have passed over the river before us -sorrow that we see them no more filling the places where we ever loved to see them, or joy in the calm assurance that they are "for ever with the Lord."

As my ministerial connection with St. Thomas' ceases next month, you will not think it out of place, just at this stage of my earthly pilgrimage, if I recall some of the names of friends, honoured and loved for the Lord's sake, who have passed away. It is pleasant, even by a momentary remembrance, to seem to live again in such a goodly company. Grove, Mackenzie, Stuart, Greville, Pitcairn, Montague Stanley, Lyall, Robertson, Keith, Chancellor, Rutherford, Guthrie, Watson, Hastings: these names start up before me as I write, and only represent many more unnamed.

Can you wonder that my heart warms on every remembrance of a flock which numbered them among its members? Can you wonder if, as long as this poor heart beats, I shall bless God for having cast in my lot for a time with such a faithful band?

Thank God, there yet remain among us men and women as truly honoured and loved as those who have gone before. I must not venture here even to hint at names representative of many others, but these are nevertheless borne on my heart before God-being exceedingly precious to me— assured as I am, that they are in "the Book of Life."

I cannot take leave of those who are gone out of sight and hearing, and tell them somewhat of what presses on me now, but to you who remain, I can freely and frankly speak out my farewell.

You will not, I well know, misunderstand me, if I do i

not refer to this from the pulpit. I am conscious that it could only be painful to you, as it would be impossible for me to do so without an amount of mental and physical excitement which ought not to be encountered; and besides, I fear, were I to attempt anything of the kind, I should be thinking more of myself and you than of Christ and you.

I can look at all before me now, in the quiet of my own home, in comparative calmness, and so I do not fear to write as I could not attempt to speak.

Nearly forty-four years have passed away since my ministry in Edinburgh began. Let me say that as I look back, I am amazed at the long-suffering and forbearance of my blessed Master, that he has for so long a period suffered his unworthy servant to labour in his vineyard. When I think of apostolic labour, when I look around at his faithful ministers at home and abroad now, spending and being spent for him, and above all, when I think of him who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister-these years seem indeed to be a long, long period; but oh, what would I not now give to have them to live over again, that I might redeem them more to the service of Christ!

I well know that it would not become me to parade before you the consciousness of my many and great shortcomings; but I can lay them all before the Friend that is nearer than a brother, and ask him to wash my every thought, my every word, my every prayer, and my every work in his own purifying and all-sanctifying blood.

Of one thing, however, I may freely speak. The Gospel which I preached when I first came to Edinburgh, I preach still:"Jesus Christ and him crucified." Thank God, I can take all to witness in this place, that I have never,