fects of thofe excellent principles in which he was inftructed, and of that worthy example by which they were enforced.

As a friend, the late Earl of Kinnoull was warm and steady.-Though bred a courtier, he profeffed no affection which he did not feel, and though his language was glowing, it was fincere. Conftant in all his attachments, even in old age he fpoke of his friends with an enthusiasm which would have done credit to the generous feelings of youth. Nothing fave grofs mifbehaviour could alienate his regards from thofe on whom he had bestowed them. The ftricteft integrity, and most delicate fenfe of honour, appeared in the whole of his intercourfe with all to whom he food related in any of the connections of life.

To his fervants he was a kind mafter, ever attentive to their comfort both in health and sickness. He felt the obligation of faithful services, and nobly rewarded them. He knew to whom confidence was due, and never indulged fufpicion. And fuch was the general mildnefs and generofity of his conduct to his domeftics, that to be difmiffed his fervice was ever regarded by them as the feverest punishment.

From the variety of important or interesting objects which conftantly folicited and engaged his attention, it was impoffible that time could hang heavy on his hands. To liftleffnefs and languor, the common attendants of wealth and greatness, he was a stranger. His mind, naturally active, and habituated to employment, was ever directed to fomething requiring thought or exertion; to every hour was affigned its proper employment, and in confequence of perfeverance and a ftrict arrangement, he dispatched much business, and yet found

leifure

leifure for the purfuits of literature, and the enjoyment of his friends. Though liberal of his. money, he was a rigid œconomist of his time.

Advanced age and growing infirmities interrup.. ted not in him the duties of the man and the Christian; unavoidable evils he fuftained with pious refignation; and as it pleased God to continue with him his intellectual powers unimpaired to the very conclufion of life, his course of active benevolence scarcely fuffered an interruption. The laft acts of his life were, those of friendship and charity.

FROM thefe imperfect sketches may be formed an idea of the character of this truly good man.. To fum it up in a few words,-his piety was exalted, his benevolence large, his charity extenfive, his converfation chafte and edifying, his manners exemplary. In his whole deportment were feen, the dignity of the Nobleman, the learning of the Scholar, and the virtue of the Christian.

The approaches of death, long forefeen and fa, miliar to his mind, he beheld with ferenity and fortitude, for his confidence rested upon that foundation which he knew death itself could not shake. No words can do fo much justice to his fentiments upon this fubject as his own. They were exprest to the author of the preceding fermon, in course of a long and ferious converfation upon the subject of it, a fhort while before his death. As the general theme was of his recommendation, fo he specified fome of the particular topics which he wished to be introduced in it, particularly the doctrine of the

* These were his words, as nearly as they can be suppofed to be quoted in the rehearsal of a converfation-they

arg

"I have always confidered the atonement of "Chrift," faid he, "to be characteristical of the

gospel as a system of religion. Strip it of that "doctrine, and you reduce it to a scheme of mo66 rality, excellent indeed, and fuch as the world "never faw, but to man, in the prefent ftate of "his faculties, abfolutely impracticable. The a

tonement of Christ, and the truths immediately "connected with that fundamental principle, pro"vide a remedy for all the wants and weaknesses " of our nature. They who strive to remove "thefe precious doctrines from the word of God, "do an irreparable injury to the grand and beau"tiful fyftem of religion which it contains, as well as to the comfort and hopes of man. For my

66

6.6 own part, I am now an old man, and have experienced the infirmities of advanced years. Of "late, in the course of fevere and dangerous ill"nefs, I have been repeatedly brought to the 8.6 gates of death. My time in this world cannot now be long. But with truth I can declare, "that in midst of all my past afflictions, my heart was fupported and comforted, by a firm reli66 ance upon the merits and atonement of my Sa"viour; and now in the near profpect of enter"ing upon an eternal world, this is the founda. ❝tion, and the only foundation, of my confidence " and hope."

IN these fentiments he fteadily perfevered till the conclufion of the scene. His laft illness con

are remarkable, and made a deep impreffion.-Since the ori ginal publication of these facts, feveral of the Earl's friends, of great refpectability, have informed the author, of the Earl's having expreffed the fame fentiments to them in fimis lar terms.

tinued.

tinued but a few days, it was a wafting and decline of nature, unattended with pain. On the 27th December 1787, without a ftruggle, or groan, or change of countenance, he expired.

"MARK THE PERFECT MAN, AND BEHOLD THE 66 UPRIGHT: FOR THE END OF THAT MAN IS "PEACE."

SER

A View of National Felicity, the Cause of Gratitude to God.

By JOHN ADAMSON, D. D. one of the Minifters of St Andrew's.

Preached on the 5th day of November 1788, bea ing the Secular Anniversary of the Revolution.

.

PSAL. xlviii. 11, 12, 13, 14.

Let Mount Zion rejoice; let the Daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgements. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof: Mark ye well her bulwarks; confider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following: For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.

IN

N this pfalm a devout Jew fings the glory of Jerufalem, for which he adores Jehovah "in the mountain of his holiness." Juftly partial to his own city, he praises "the beau "ty of its fituation," the ftatelinefs of its ftructures, the ftrength of its walls, and the peculiar honour and felicity which it derived from the presence of the Divine Being; which

-made