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CHAPTER LI.

WILLIAM BOYD, M.A. (1710-1772),

MINISTER OF MACOSQUIN AND MONREAGH.

1. A Good Conscience a necessary qualification of a Gospel Minister. A Sermon preached at Antrim, June 15th, 1731, at a General Synod of the Protestants of the Presbyterian persuasion in the North of Ireland. [Heb. xiii. 18.] 18mo, pp. 30. Derry, 1731. W. D. K.

THE Presbytery of Coleraine ordained Mr. WILLIAM BOYD as minister of Macosquin on the 31st of January, 1710.

At the time of his settlement in that part of the County Derry, the poverty of the country was so great that many ministers and people were seriously thinking of emigration to the American colonies on an extensive scale. In 1718 Mr. Boyd was sent over to New England, bearing a commission signed by nine ministers and by 208 other persons, authorising him to ascertain what encouragement would be given them by the Colonial Government in case of their going to settle in that country. The original document still exists in America, and has been printed in Parker's History of Londonderry, N.H., from which we transfer it to these pages, under the belief that in this country it has never been printed before, and that it is therefore quite new to the majority of our readers. The names appended thereto many will recognise as the names borne at the present time by the old Presbyterian families of Aghadowey, Macosquin, Coleraine, Ballymoney, and the valley of

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the Lower Bann. The answer given to the application is not now known; but it is certain that, whether from an improved state of affairs at home, or from a less encouraging response than was expected, some who signed the commission did not emigrate. Mr. M'Gregor, minister of Aghadowey (1701-1718), whose name is not at the document, went out the same year that his neighbour, Mr. Boyd, was sent to negotiate; the probability being that he and those of his people who accompanied him emigrated at their own risk, without waiting for the result of Mr. Boyd's embassy. Mr. M'Gregor preached to his people before leaving on the words of Moses, "If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence" (Ex. xxxiii. 15), and stated in the course of his sermon that their reasons for departure were-first, to avoid oppression and cruel bondage; second, to shun persecution and designed ruin; third, to withdraw from the communion of idolaters; and, lastly, to have freedom of worship. He and his people founded a city in New Hampshire, and called it Londonderry, after the county which they had left, and the city, in whose sufferings and deliverance many of them had a share. It was this town, which some years after gave shelter to Matthew Clerk (see ch. xxxiii.).

But to return to our subject. In 1725 Mr. Boyd left Macosquin, and accepted a call to Monreagh, near Derry, then vacant owing to the removal of the Rev. William Gray to Usher's Quay, Dublin. He was installed in this ancient congregation, formerly known as Taboyn, but in later times Monreagh, on the 25th of April in the above year. He had been scarcely two years settled in his new charge till Mr. Gray, feeling uncomfortable in the metropolis, without asking the consent of Presbytery or people, suddenly made a descent on Taboyn, and began to preach in an old cornkiln at St. Johnston, within the bounds of his former congregation. Mr. Boyd in consequence found himself at once involved in trouble. Persons, from considerations of self, everywhere are tempted to do unprincipled things, careless as to what interests are damaged.

Members of Monreagh congregation, many of whom had made themselves morally accountable for a portion of Mr. Boyd's salary, were induced, some from convenience, and some out of personal regard to Mr. Gray, to connect themselves with the new congregation at St. Johnston. Criminations and recriminations before the Church courts followed. The Synod acted as arbiter between the parties, was lavish of good advice, refused for several years to recognise either Mr. Gray or St. Johnston, and in reference to the character of Mr. Boyd, on which some tried to cast dust, it declared that it "stands clear and unexceptionable, and that his doctrine and conversation have been suitable to his station and office as a minister of the Gospel." Notwithstanding all that the Synod did to protect him, Gray's unworthy conduct damaged his income. The congregation, which in 1674 had paid Mr. Hart sixty pounds, a salary not inferior then to that paid by any congregation in the Meeting of Laggan, promised Mr. Boyd fifty pounds at his settlement; but this was so much reduced, that in 1732 he declared himself willing to accept forty pounds if well secured.

To mark the esteem in which he was held by his brethren, Mr. Boyd was chosen Moderator of the Synod of Ulster at its meeting in Dungannon in 1730. Next year, when retiring from office, he preached at Antrim a discourse, the title of which stands at the head of this notice. It is an excellent and orthodox address, having special reference to Abernethy's sermon on Personal Persuasion, which he quotes several times. It is simply an echo of the great Non-subscription Controversy, the noise of which had now passed by. His doctrine is that to have a good conscience in all things is the bright character of a Gospel minister, and is what entitles him to the respect due to his office. In handling his subject he shows what conscience is, what it is to have a good conscience, and what it is to have a good conscience in all things. He then illustrates the truth of his general proposition, and concludes with a particular application.