BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. JOHN ANDERSON, D. D.

MR. ANDERSON was born on the south side of the Tweed, but so near it, that the congregation where his parents attended public worship was on the Scotch side. He was baptized by the venerable James Morrison of Norham, many years stated clerk to the General Associate Synod of Scotland. It is believed that his youth was passed, under the pastoral care of Mr. Morrison. It is certain that he entertained, for that venerable man, the most affectionate regard during the whole course of Mr. Morrison's long life; and a regular correspondence by letter was maintained between them, until Mr. Morrison's death. The writer of this sketch, recollects being shown by Dr. Anderson a letter from Mr. Morrison to him, written after he was ninety-one years of age.

Mr. Anderson was born about the year 1748. But little is known of his parents. If his own statements, very incidentally made respecting them, are rightly recollected, his father died before his remembrance; his mother set out with him for America, but died on the passage. He would sometimes allude to practices and remarks of his mother which showed her to be a woman of strong mind and unaffected piety. He was an only child; and never having had any of his own kindred in this country, and his habits of thinking and current of remarks, seldom leading him to speak of himself or his family connections; nothing is particularly known concerning them, more than what has been just related. His education was received in Scotland, but at which of the universities is likewise unknown. Nor indeed is this a matter of much consequence, especially in the case of a man of such extensive and various learning as Dr. Anderson; whose whole life was devoted to the successful pursuit of knowledge; and

whose attainments plainly showed, that he had left the usual acquirements of an academic or university course far behind. He studied Theology under the care of the Professor of the Associate Synod, who, it is believed, was at the time of his course, the younger Moncrief. After having completed the usual course of study, he was licensed: and having preached for some time as a probationer, it was found that his voice was too feeble, for the audiences which then generally attended the worshipping assemblies of the Associate Church in Scotland. And although it was his ardent desire to serve his divine Master and his generation, in preaching the everlasting gospel, yet on account of his voice, he was obliged to abandon it in Scotland. His accuracy as a scholar, and particularly his very correct taste, in language and every thing connected with composition, were known-for as a linguist and a belles-lettres scholar, he was justly entitled to take the first rank among the scholars of that age and when he desisted from public speaking, he found ready employment as a corrector of the press, in large book-printing establishments, both in Glasgow and Edinburgh. And in this business he occupied himself during several years afterwards, that he remained in Scotland.

During the time that he was thus employed, his mind was still occupied about the concerns of the church. He found leisure to compose and publish a series of Essays on several important religious subjects. These Essays show a deep and thorough acquaintance with revealed truth, and a mind sensitive to its interests. Those who will compare these Essays with his latest writings, published nearly fifty years afterwards, can not but be struck with the undeviating consistency with which he held fast his religious principles. This publication brought him into favorable notice, both as a divine and a scholar.

When the Coalescence between some members of the Presbytery of Pennsylvania and the Reformed Presbytery in this country, in 1782, took place, by which the Associate Presbytery was almost annihilated, and when the Presbytery's need of aid was known in Scotland; Mr. Anderson was recommended to come immediately to America, and render such aid to the brethren here, as he might be enabled to do. Supposing that the audiences must necessarily be much smaller here, than they generally were in Scotland, it was thought that he might be usefully employed in preaching. Accordingly, he made his arrangements to come as soon as practicable, and arrived in Philadelphia in 1783. The first sermon he preach

ed after his arrival, was from Psalm xlvi. 5. "God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God shall help her and that right early." This was in Mr. Marshall's meeting. house in Philadelphia. In the choosing of his text and in his discourse, he seemed to have a particular reference to the state of the Associate Church in this country. Those who heard this discourse, considered it highly seasonable and reviving to the interests and refreshing to the friends of truth. Mr. Marshall, knowing what had been his difficulty with regard to preaching in Scotland, and apprehensive that the same cause might prevent the edification of his people ou that occasion, requested the congregation, before Mr. Anderson commenced, to draw as near the pulpit as possible. He was, however, heard with more satisfaction than had been apprehended. And although his own congregation and those who became familiar with his manner of speaking, heard him without any particular inconvenience, yet it was always a complaint with strangers, through the whole of his ministry, that they heard him with difficulty. It may be here remarked, that although the difficulty that attended his speaking might in part be ascribed to the organic structure of the vocal organs, yet much of it doubtless arose from habits which were the effects of a strong degree of constitutional diffidence-a feeling often found in the greatest men. Those who had an opportunity of closely observing Dr. Anderson's habits, could readily enough see, that with this difficulty, he had to contend through his whole life, unless when a sense of duty, arising from a regard to some truth either in doctrine or practice, roused all the energies of his mind; then for a time he would appear wholly to overcome it. Under such circumstances, he has spoken during the whole of the public exercises of a day, so as not only to be heard with ease over a large assembly, but in a manner truly eloquent. Indeed, he seldom preached a whole day, in which he did not in some part of his discourses, become roused up to speak, for a few minutes, in the spirit, both as to language and manner, of the most genuine eloquence.

During the first two years after the Union, the operations of the Presbytery were confined chiefly to the eastern counties of Pennsylvania. And there in the vacancies under Presbytery's care, Dr. Anderson labored with great faithfulness and distinguished success for that period. For the intelligent and the pious always heard him with interest and satisfaction. And such always found delight and refreshment in

the clear arrangement of his discourses, and the strain of evangelical doctrine, in which they never failed to abound.

During the summer of 1784, the attention of all the members of Presbytery was much occupied with the preparation of the Testimony; for although the drafting of it was assigned to Mr. Beveridge, there was need of frequent consultations among the members, and frequent meetings of Presbytery: so that although there were applications from several places west of the Alleghany mountains as well as from the State of New York, no assistance could be sent, as the members could not be so far separated, until both the Narrative and Testimony were completed and adopted. This was done, as stated in another part of this volume, viz. the Testimony on the 25th of August, and the Narrative on the 25th of October of that year. It is to be borne in mind that there were then but four members in the Presbytery, viz. Messrs. Marshall, Clarkson, Anderson and Beveridge. Mr. Anderson was at that time stated clerk of Presbytery. As soon as circumstances permitted. Mr. Beveridge was sent to the State of New York, and Dr. Anderson to the western parts of Pennsylvania; and where he was the instrument of planting those congregations in which he was eventually settled.

The legal spirit which prevailed in the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, and which prompted that judicatory in 1720 to condemn the Marrow of Modern Divinity, and the doctrines taught in that book, very early manifested itself in the most numerous branch of the Presbyterian Church in this country. In 1754, the New Castle Presbytery issued a warning against Messrs. Gellatly and Arnot, then newly arrived, in which that Presbytery virtually condemned the Marrow doctrine. This called forth a very able defence of these doctrinal points, and refutation of the warning, by Mr. Gellat ly. But still these doctrines were extensively opposed by many ministers in that body. To establish his people in these fundamental gospel truths, Dr. Anderson was led to preach on the nature of Justifying Faith. The continued opposition made to the doctrines of the Reformation on this subject, at length led him to embody his views on it, in six discourses, in which "The Scripture Doctrine of the Appropriation, which is in the Nature of Saving Faith, is Stated and Illustrated." This is probably the clearest and most satisfactory treatise on the subject extant in the English language. It was first published in Philadelphia, 1793, and a second edition in Edinburgh, 1797, and a third in Philadelphia, 1823.

While on the subject of Dr. Anderson's labors as an au

thor, we may here also notice his treatise on Psalmody, "Vindiciae Cantus Dominici." This work, which will long remain as a standard work on the subject, and will be held in estimation as an able defence of the scriptural purity of divine worship, especially in the ordinance of praise, was occasioned by the very general introduction of a human psalmody, in the worship of God, instead of the songs of inspiration, by the General Assembly Presbyterian Church, in this country. This work was published in Philadelphia, in 1800. This, again, was succeeded in 1806, by his Letters in defence of Hervey and Marshall, against the attacks of Mr. Bellamy of New England, who not only opposed, but misrepresented the views of these eminent British divines. This work is entitled "Precious Truth," and is a valuable defence and elucidation of the views of the fathers of the Reformation, on the subject of Justification and other collateral doctrines. His last and largest work, is his "Dialogues on Church Communion," published at Pittsburgh, 1820. The general reason for the appearance of this work, was the prevalence of Latitudinarian sentiments, on the subject of church fellowship; but a special call for such a work, arose out of the publication of the late Dr. Mason of New York, entitled "A Plea for Communion on Catholic Principles;" in which work the popular sentiments and feelings of the day were embodied and presented in a very plausible form. In this work the reader will find Dr. Mason's arguments stripped of their sophistical and gaudy dress, and the scriptural doctrine of visible churchfellowship, very clearly set forth. And in another part of the work, the principles of the Associate Church, wherein they differ from other denominations, very clearly and candidly stated.

In addition to these writings, which we may safely predict will yet be held, and at no very distant period we trust, in higher estimation than they have ever yet been, by the friends of truth, Dr. Anderson contributed to the defence of truth in his day, by several other publications, though of a more ephemeral character.

As an author, Dr. Anderson contributed largely to promote the cause of truth and piety in this country. And those who knew him intimately, can attest that he did this no less as a pastor and professor of Theology, and by that bright exemplification of all the christian graces, which shone in his whole character and conversation. It is not proposed in this brief sketch, to do justice to his memory in any of these particulars; but an outline at least should be entered on record,