"reputation neceffary to it, is to be com"mitted to God, and refigned to him,

never to be preserved by any finful com

pliances on my part. Lord, let integriCC. ty and truth preserve me, for I wait on "thee."

UPON another occafion; " The fufficiency of the fcriptures to the purposes "of a divine revelation, and the right of private judgment, are the ftable principles of protestantism, in which we ought to glory; But it is ftrange, what prejudices there are in the minds of many "proteftants against them, as if they led to licentiousness. This feems to proceed "from a wrong idea of religion, as if it "confifted in a fet of notions, pretended

to be the determinate fenfe of fcripture; "whereas, indeed, it confifts in forming our fentiments and practice on the fole authority of God, which can never be

without liberty, I mean, from human "decifions and fanctions. This doctrine "was the fubject of my public discourses *this day; and it is what I must stand by, as I expect to be approved of by my

.

great mafter, who will not acquit me,

"if

A

"if I fhall endeavour to transfer the faith "-of his difciples from his own word to " human decrees. And fhall I ever dare "to trifle or prevaricate in religious pro"feffions? Shall I be intimidated in doing

my duty to God, and in maintaining the rights of confcience, by an expreffive re"gard to the opinions of men? The pre"tence of preferving my usefulness is really a fham. Is that to be preferved at the expence of liberty and truth? But in this great affair I have my weakneffes to afflict me. Lord, ftrengthen me with might by thy Spirit in the inner man.”

AGAIN, "It has pleafed God often to try me with difficulties in the exercise of my ministry. I have met with ill-ufage " from many. I have been, I think, ill"treated by fome of my brethren; and,

now, contention is rifen up to a destruc

tive height among them. What the effects "of fome late proceedings may be, I cannot tell. But fome have pushed matters "of debate with such vehemence, as is like to render fome minifters exceedingly ob"noxious to the cenfures of an unthinking "multitude, and thereby to mar their use"fulness.

"fulness. I pray God this may not be "laid to the charge of any. For myself, "I defire, first of all, to examine my own «conduct. And, I thank God, I rejoice "in the teftimony of an unreproaching "heart. Nor could I have acted other-i "wife without a gainfaying, at least a doubting mind. And let it never enter into

b

my heart to practise the arts of diffimu q lation, and make fuch bafe compliances as even Jeem to be inconfiftent with thei prerogative of Jefus Chrift, as king ofn "his church, or the facred rights of his fubjects. My reputation I will commit

cheerfully to God, without endeavouring "to preserve it by any finful methods. In "these and all other trying circumstances, by returning and rest I shall be faved, ins quietness and confidence shall be my strength.”›d

"

As matters went on towards an open rupture amongst the minifters, fo the clamors and distractions among the people. grew more and more offenfive. New congregations were erected in feveral places, of fuch as fcrupled attending upon the miniftrations of Nonfubfcribers. And ministers of that denomination found every where great difficulties

difficulties arifing from the jealoufies spread among their people. The reputation which Mr. Abernethy had acquired, and which was established by a long course of a most exemplary life, was no fecurity to him from these. Some of his people forfook his ministry, and went to other congregations.` And in fome time the number of the fcrupulous and diffatisfied so increased, that they were by the minifters of the Synod erected into a diftinct congregation, and called a minifter.

MR. Abernethy, in the whole course of this affair carried it with the greatest modefty. He had been long held in the highest esteem by many who now forfook him; and it was not a fmall trial of his virtue to bear every thing he met with patiently, and with the usual compofure of his fpirit. Many are the grave and ferious reflections he makes upon this turn of affairs in his diary. But there are fome tender points which forbid the publishing of them.

THERE happened about this time, a vacancy in the congregation of Wood-fireet, by the death of one of their paftors, the

late

late reverend Mr. Boyle; and the people gave Mr. Abernethy an invitation to fucceed him. Many circumstances concurred to incline him to accept of that invitation, and it was the opinion of most of his friends, that his removal to Dublin would be of real fervice to the diffenting interest. But he found difficulty in the prosecution of this defign, arifing principally from the state of his congregation at Antrim. The far greater part of the old congregation had adhered firmly to him, and retained as high an esteem of him as ever: And if he should leave them unfettled in that time of diftraction, he imagined the confequences might be very bad. He refolved therefore to accept of the invitation from Wood-ftreet, only upon condition, his people of Antrim should be fatisfied, and actually provided with a fucceffor. This he publickly declared as a proper expreffion of his regard for them. In fome time they came into the choice of a minister to fucceed him, upon which he declared his acceptance of the call from Woodfireet, and immediately removed thither.

THE Concern of mind with which he entered upon with this charge, and his folicitude