them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them." I saw they were applicable to my case; but being in company, could not at that time retire for prayer. This day, being confined from public worship, I got an opportunity to pour out my complaint before the Lord with many cries and tears, and was enabled to commit my body, soul, and spirit, with all my burdens, to the Lord. I had no manifestation of his divine presence, or particular assurance of my prayer being heard; but I have a comfortable hope that it was the Lord who enabled me to pray, and that the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. I have had some comfort in reading the first epistle of John: I can apply the marks given of the children of God, and think I do keep the two great commandments, of believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and loving the brethren: at least, if I trust not on him for salvation, I know not on what I trust; and if I love not his disciples, I love no other creature. I desire to say with David, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee !"

On Thursday, the 5th of May, Lady Glenorchy writes thus in a note to her friend Lady Maxwell: "I hope you will remember to unite with me to-morrow in seeking the Lord's blessing and countenance on the house to be opened next Lord's day in his name, and do not forget one that stands much in need of your prayers for wisdom and direction, and other spiritual blessings. The strong are called upon to bear with the weak, to comfort the feeble-minded, and to strengthen them. You now have an opportunity of doing this for me, for I am weak, feeble-minded, dis

tressed, perplexed, and tossed about with many fears, and not comforted."

Lady Glenorchy's chapel in Edinburgh is a plain but substantial stone building, commodiously fitted up to hold two thousand people, and when very crowded may hold more. Its situation is unfavourable with respect to access, being at the east end of the deep hollow which separates the Old Town from the New Town. It may be seen from the North Bridge, contiguous to the College Church and the Trinity and Orphan Hospitals.

When the building was nearly completed, as Lady Glenorchy had intended that her chapel should be in full communion with the Established Church, she wrote to the Presbytery of Edinburgh in the following

terms:

To the Rev. the Moderator of the Presbytery of

Edinburgh.

"Rev. Sir,-It is a general complaint, that the churches of this city that belong to the Establishment are not proportionate to the number of its inhabitants. Many who are willing to pay rent for seats, cannot obtain them; and no space is left open for the poor, but the remoter areas, where few of those who find room to stand, can get within hearing of an ordinary voice. I have thought it my duty, to employ part of that substance with which God has been pleased to intrust me, in building a chapel within the Orphan-house park, in which a considerable number of our communion, who at present are altogether unprovided, may enjoy the comfort and benefit of the same ordinances that are dispensed in their parish churches; and where

I hope to have the pleasure of accommodating some hundreds of poor people, who have long been shut out from one of the best, and to some of them, the only means of being instructed in the principles of our holy religion. The chapel will soon be ready to receive a congregation, and it is my intention to have it supplied with a minister of approved character and abilities, who shall give security for his soundness in the faith, and his loyalty to Government. It will give me pleasure to be informed that the Presbytery approve of my general design, and that it will be agreeable to them that I ask occasional supply from such ministers and probationers as I am acquainted with, till a congregation be formed and supplied with a stated minister. And I beg you will do me the favour to present this letter, with my respectful compliments, to the Rev. Presbytery of Edinburgh, at their first meeting. I am, Rev. Sir, your most humble servant, " W. GLENORCHY."

To this letter she received the following reply from the Presbytery clerk, Mr James Craig.

"The Presbytery unanimously approved of Lady Glenorchy's general design; and desired that she might be informed that her asking occasional supply from such ministers and probationers as her Ladyship is acquainted with, till a congregation is formed and supplied with a stated minister, will be agreeable to the Presbytery."

This place of worship was opened on Sabbath the 8th of May 1774. The morning service was conducted by the Rev. Dr John Erskine, at that time one of the ministers of the Old Grey-Friar's Church, and

colleague to the distinguished historian, Dr Robertson, then Principal of the University. He preached from the 8th chapter of the book of Proverbs, the 33d and 34th verses: "Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at the posts of my doors." The service of the afternoon was conducted by the Rev. Robert Walker.* He took his text from the 6th chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians, 15th verse, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." The few persons who survive, speak of this day with much satisfaction and delight. Fervent prayers for the usefulness of this institution were offered up to Almighty God, which we have every reason to hope and believe have already been heard and answered, and will be answered for ages and generations yet to come. Lady Glenorchy, in her Diary of the day, mentions the event with much modesty and great conciseness.

May 8, 1774.-This day, through the blessing of God, my chapel in Edinburgh was opened, by Dr Erskine and Mr Walker; each preached a very suitable discourse to crowded audiences. I went in the interval between sermons to St Cuthbert's Chapel of Ease, and partook of the Lord's Supper, and returned again to my own chapel in the afternoon. I had much freedom in devoting myself, and all that I am and have, unto God, and had sweet joy and peace in believing. I have felt all day much desire to praise the Lord, and to call on all within me to bless his holy name, who hath done for me great things. All his ways towards me have been mercy and truth. To

* See page 94.

him be ascribed glory, and praise, now and for ever more. Amen.

The external quiet and retirement of Taymouth, together with its beautiful and sublime scenery, and the pastoral and orderly habits of the people, were peculiarly congenial to the views and feelings of Lady Glenorchy, and contributed in no small degree to soothe her mind and promote her health. Hence she re

This

peatedly expresses pleasure at her return to it. place must have necessarily inspired useful recollections and associations. Here she once lived in worldly grandeur, and with high ambitious prospects, without God in the world; and, but for divine grace, she would have been left to perish in the midst of them all. Here God, however, had been pleased to visit her in mercy, and to call her to a saving knowledge of himself; and now she felt herself little more than a stranger and pilgrim in it, looking for a heavenly inheritance. Here, unattended, she traversed the fields, walked with God, recounted his kindnesses and his grace, and with faith unfeigned, offered up fervent prayers and praises. Here, in her wanderings, she often communicated sacred instruction to the poor, which, in many instances, issued in their experimental knowledge of God. Here she generously and seasonably distributed alms to the necessitous she met with by the way, and then returned to her closet to record in her Diary, in the sincere and unaffected lowliness of her heart, how unworthy, and how sinful, and how unprofitable she felt herself to be. But such are the wonderful effects of the grace of God.-This will be seen by reading the extract which follows.

Taymouth, July 18.-Once more the Lord has been