things were not quite defperate, he continued labouring to do good, and to heal the breaches that were made, with a conftant mind. Difficulties did not daunt him, nor vexatious scenes of wrathful contention and difputation make him impatient. The obfervation of Solomon was admirably exemplified in him: A wife man is ftrong, and a man of knowledge increafeth ftrength.

He conftantly laboured against any breach, either of ministerial or christian communion, on account of the present controverfies. With this view, when jealousy and difcord were grown to a very great height, and a rupture was threatned, he wrote a paper intitled; feafonable advice to the contending parties in the north, which was published with a preface, by the reverend Meffieurs Weld, Boyfe, and Chappin, of Dublin. The intention it pursues from beginning to end, is to prove, that there ought to be no breach of communion amongst the proteftant diffenters in the north, on account of the late different fentiments and practices relating to fubfcription to the Westminster confeffion. This paper was anonymous; for Mr. Abernethy imagined

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imagined it might be more useful that it was not known to come from him, who was not looked upon by all, as very zealous, and the principal advocate for liberty. The paper was fometime after answered by the reverend Mr. Mafterton. His answer was pretty large. Mr. Abernethy replied in a book, to which he prefixed his name, acknowledging himself the author of the seasonable advice. To this reply there was a poftfcript by the above-named minifters of Dublin, answering what related to them. I fhall fay nothing concerning thefe performances, the world must judge: With this the controverfy between Mr. Abernethy and Mr. Masterton ended; but the ftate of things grew worfe and worfe people in many places were feparating from the Non-fubfcribing minifters, and fome of these minifters were very much reproached, as utterly unfound in their religious principles, of which Mr. Abernethy bore a large fhare; but nothing could put him so out of fo humour, as to divert him from studying by all means to prevent a feandalous breach of communion.

SOME

SOME of his reflections upon that melancholy state of affairs, and his own particular concernment in it, are as follow: "O! my foul wait on the Lord, and be of good courage, and he shall ftrengthen thine heart. It pleafes God to exercise me with a variety of trials; but, tho' I am troubled almost on every fide, I am not diftreffed, "I am perplexed, but not in despair. When "I reflect on the times which are paft, "the troubles and temptations which have "environed me, together with the divine "vouchfafements in that ftate, I am com

forted; for in faithfulness God has af"flicted me, and has never forfaken me. "I have been made to rejoice in tribulations, for they have work'd fome in

crease of patience, experience and hope; "therefore let me account it all joy, when "I fall into divers temptations: And what "have I now to be follicitous about? For, "after all, that which produces inquietude "and carelesness of mind, attended with

confufion and pain, is an exceffive re

gard to fome prefent intereft; for de"bates in my mind merely about duty, if "nothing else be mixed with them, are € 3 " calm

"calm and difpaffionate; it is ftill something "felfish which produces perturbation. I "find myself, in my prefent circumstances,

too deeply concerned for my reputation, "which many are inclined fiercely to run "upon, because another reputation, to which they are attached, feems to be affronted by the refiftance now made. This is a worldly intereft, which I am called to refign " and commit to God without anxiety; all "that I am to ftudy, is, that I may be

approved of God, leaving to his kind and "faithful providence all that concerns me: "These things I muft feek after; firft, "that the free exercife and compofure of cc my mind may be preserved; for when "either anger or fear, worldly forrow or "carnal affection prevail, this is deftroyed, " and even my fincerity hurt. 2dly, That "the more I am tempted, the greater advantages I may obtain, I mean especially, an increase of patience, and all the other peaceable fruits of righteousness. 3dly, That my fervices to the church, and the precious interefts of religion, may abound more and more. My miniftry "is the main bufinefs of my life; and therefore, to be more diligent, faith

ful and fuccesful in it, is the point I ought to aim at, as a proper improve"ment of all my afflictions."

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AGAIN, "an important fubject of my "ferious confideration, is, the difcord among ministers, and people of our denomination, which, if not timely reme"died, may have very difmal effects. The peace of the church is to be defired by all, "who love our Lord Jefus Christ, and by "all lawful means to be purfued; but a departure from the gofpel foundations of peace, can never be juftified. To make profeffions against the light of my own confcience, feems to me a moft heinous impiety; in the mean time, there is not any thing I am more in danger of, than "the fecret influence of corrupt motives, especially an undue love of reputation, "fear of reproach, and the disesteem of men, who, I am fe nfible, act [from an intemperate and ill informed zeal "for what they think truth: This puts on the disguise of prudent caution care to preserve my usefulness "in the miniftry; but let me always "remember, that my usefulness, and the

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