of this earth, or to be desirous of its richest treasures? He possessed another portion, since almost every family in his parish, however little and obscure, afforded a shining ornament for that divine crown of glory and rejoicing, which shall be beautified with the lustre of an eternal excellency, and be, by the triumphant King of the Church, bestowed upon all those who have turned many unto righteousness.

Mr Guthrie was possessed of all those qualities which became a minister of the gospel, and being accompanied by the powerful influences of divine grace, gave a happy prospect of uncommon success: for, besides his excellent endowments which were discovered in the pulpit, he was eminently fitted to improve, for the edification of his people, the ministerial duties of visiting and catechising; in performing whereof he joined an indefatigable diligence to a holy skill, knew how to embrace every opportunity of discoursing upon the most important and awful subjects, in a plain and familiar manner, and of recommending religion to the consciences of every one in the way which their special circumstances called for. And it was his peculiar care to endear the ways of God to the youth of his parish, and give them early impressions of an eternal world, before the devil and their lusts had seized upon their hearts, and enslaved them and the seed of grace that was thus sown during the spring of life was, through the divine blessing, preserved in many as they advanced in years, and brought forth much fruit. Nor did Mr Guthrie neglect, in visiting poor families, to join works of charity to his instructions, and imitate his great Master, in showing compassion both to the bodies and souls of men. By all which winning methods he engaged their esteem and affections, which could not fail to add a mighty force to his exhortation and reproofs.

He excelled also in that unusual mean of knowledge, catechising, and avoided those mistakes in the management of this exercise, which frequently lessen the advantage thereof: his questions were mostly confined to such truths of the doctrine according to godliness, as were recommended by their great importance, and extensive influence upon practical religion: herein conforming himself to

the apostolical injunction, by insisting upon those things which were good and profitable unto men, and avoiding foolish and trifling questions that were vain and useless; and knowing that it was his business to feed the meanest and weakest of the Christian flock with wholesome instruction, he adapted these exercises to the lowest capacities, begun with the most easy and obvious truths of religion, and so prepared the way for those which required a more enlightened understanding. He was careful not to expose the ignorant, so as to beget a distaste in them of the means of knowledge, nor to confound the modest and bashful; but by his meekness and condescension he encouraged and engaged them; whereby catechising became a pleasure to them, and he had the joy to see useful and solid knowledge spreading itself among a people whom he found grossly ignorant.

His own experience in the ways of God, and the great depths of troubles and sorrows, doubts and fears, whereby awakened consciences are exercised, into which he himself was often plunged, eminently qualified him for assisting and comforting others in the like circumstances, for strengthening the weak hands, and confirming the feeble knees; and could not miss to beget in him that affectionate concern for poor souls, those bowels of tenderness and sympathy, which can never be found with any but such, who themselves have had a feeling acquaintance with the methods of the spiritual life, and the work of the Holy Spirit in their own hearts and lives. And it were easy to enlarge upon the uncommon dexterity which this excellent person had in improving sickness, and the approaches of the king of terrors, to the advantage of those who were exposed to them. So that though instances of a death-bed repentance rarely happen, and it be indeed infinite madness to delay to the last hour that work which is of eternal consequence; yet there wanted not evidences of the divine blessing upon his endeavours to reclaim sinners, and call them to God even in the last hour.

It would be justly blameable if we neglected to mention one other noble quality of Mr Guthrie's; the state of his health made it ne

cessary for him to use frequent and vigorous exercises, and this made him choose fishing and fowling for his common recreations: but as he was always animated by a flaming zeal for the glory of his blessed Master, and a tender compassion to the souls of men, and as it was the principal thing made him desire life and health, that he might employ them in propagating the kingdom of God, and turning transgressors from their ways; so the very hours of recreation were dedicated to this purpose which was so endeared to him, and he knew how to make his diversions subservient to the nobler ends of his ministry, he made them the occasions of familiarizing his people to him, and introducing himself to their affections; and, in the disguise of a sportsman, he gained some to a religious life, whom he could have little influence upon in a minister's gown; of which there happened several memorable examples.

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Some of the parish were so extremely rude and barbarous, that. they never attended upon divine worship, and knew not so much as the face of their pastor; to such, every thing that regarded religion was distasteful—a minister would have been enough to have frightened them, nor could he have access either to visit or catechise them but what Mr Guthrie might have almost otherwise despaired of, he effectuated by his diversions; in the habit which he then wore, he conciliated the esteem and love even of these ignorant creatures, made use of their curiosity, as well as of nobler arguments, to bring them to the church, and enter them into the paths of salvation; so that the pulpit was the first place which discovered to them that it was their minister himself who had allured them thither; and so condescending a method of gaining them procured a constant attendance upon public ordinances, and was at length accompanied by the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ unto the praise of God. Thus, in imitation of the great apostle, being crafty he caught them with guile. And thus heavenly wisdom and dexterity will be one day celebrated with juster applauses by the assembly of the first-born, than the cunningest stratagems, or the bravest attempts which raise the character

of princes and generals, whose fame flies now swiftest and widest through the world.

Thus his eminent abilities and unwearied diligence in the work of the ministry continued to exert themselves with distinguished success; they procured the universal love of his parish; and he lived for one-and-twenty years in such perfect harmony with his session, that during all that time, there happened not the smallest difference betwixt them.

His family affairs were also very easy and comfortable to him. August 1645, he was happily married to Agnes Campbell, daughter to David Campbell of Skeldon, in the shire of Ayr, a remote branch of the family of Loudon; a gentlewoman endowed with all those qualities that could render her a blessing to her husband, having joined to a handsome shape and comely features, good sense and good breeding, sweetened by a modest cheerfulness of temper; and what endeared her to Mr Guthrie beyond every thing else, sincere piety so that they lived a little more than twenty years, in the most complete friendship, and with a constant mutual satisfaction, founded upon the noblest principle, one faith, one hope, one baptism, and a sovereign love to Jesus Christ which zealously inspired them both. By her he had six children, two of whom only outlived him, both daughters, who were eminent for their sincere piety, and endeavoured to follow the example of their excellent parents. One of them was married to Miller of Glenlee, a gentleman in the shire of Ayr; and the other was married to the Reverend Mr Patrick Warner, December 1681, when the tyranny and cruelty of the times were growing to their height, and so she soon became a companion to him in tribulation, imprisonment and banishment for the truth's sake; till the glorious Revolution, when Mr Warner was settled minister of the gospel at Irvine. Both he and she are yet living, full of years, waiting till their change come. Their children are, William Warner of Ardeir, in the shire of Ayr; and Margaret Warner, married to Mr Robert Wodrow, minister of the gospel at Eastwood, to whom we are obliged for the materials from which this account of Mr Guthrie's life is composed.

We have given a short account of Mr Guthrie's eminent ministerial endowments, as they appeared in the discharge of the pastoral office among his own people, and of the glorious successes wherewith God blessed his zealous love and unwearied diligence: but this was not the sole character which he excelled in; for in every other capacity he gave equal proofs of his superior accomplish

ments.

He was distinguished in the judicatures of the Church, from which he never allowed himself to be absent, by a thorough knowledge of our constitution, an heroic courage and firmness whenever the cause of truth and holiness was concerned; and that modest regard for others, and affection to his brethren, which endeared him to them, and qualified him for the business and duties of society.

When that unhappy distinction betwixt the public Resolutioners and Protesters found place in the Church, Mr Guthrie thought it his duty to be of the last denomination: yet he took care that his angry passions did not embitter his zeal, which he tempered with a constant moderation, and sweetened with an ardent love to peace. He preached with his brethren of different sentiments; and warmly entertained every thing that had a tendency to union, and could give a prospect of an accommodation. The power of divine grace, and his native genius and temper, with united force engaging him to healing measures, and inspiring him with an abhorrence for such as were factious and divisive; so that during a season of so great difficulties and hazards, he avoided every extreme, and became a bright example of a zealous moderation, whereby he was of more than ordinary usefulness to the Church on all public occasions.

In the year 1645, when a young man, he was appointed by the Assembly to attend the army; a happy conjunction of all the endowments which could qualify a person for that station, soon determining the Church to make him their choice. Being newly married, he was then in such circumstances as, under the Mosaical economy, would have afforded him a dispensation from that service; and his affectionate wife was not a little frightened at the dangers he might be exposed to, which increased her aversion to such a