with God. At his instigation a prayer-meeting was formed among the pious neighbours, which he and his father attended weekly, and from which he derived

much benefit.

In the winters of 1780-1-2, Mr Mitchell attended the Divinity Hall at Edinburgh under the professorship of Dr Hamilton. During his stay in the metropolis he became acquainted with several of the city ministers, and among the rest with the Rev. Dr Davidson, the worthy minister of the Tolbooth Parish. The language in which Mr Mitchell speaks of this eminent Christian minister in the autobiography to which we have so often referred, shows the high estimation in which he as well as all who ever enjoyed the privilege of Dr Davidson's friendship, have uniformly held him. His almost paternal kindness to those aspirants to the sacred office who were introduced to his notice, can never be effaced from the memory of those of them who still survive. To them the remembrance of that holy man will always be sweet. Mr Mitchell received from him many marks of attention; and through his influence, he obtained a situation as tutor in a family, which, under the blessing of the Almighty, laid the foundation of his future success in life. The family to which we refer, was that of Walter Scott, Esq., W.S., George Square, Edinburgh, the father of the celebrated baronet, whose genius has shed an unfading lustre around his name. The following description of Mr Scott and his household will be interesting to our readers, as showing the high religious privileges and pious example within the sphere of which Sir Walter Scott passed his early days. We quote from Mr Mitchell's manuscript autobiography :

which were deposited in Mr Scott's hands, relative to the process, this worldly man came into Edinburgh on a Sun. day to have an inspection of them. As there was no immediate necessity for this measure, Mr Scott asked the farmer if an ordinary day would not answer equally well? When the farmer was not willing to take this advice, but insisted on the production of his papers, Mr Scott delivered them up to him, saying, "It was not his practice to engage in secular business on Sabbath, and that he would have no difficulty in Edinburgh to find some of No wonder such a man was confided in, and greatly his profession, who would have none of his scruples." honoured in his profession. All the poor services I did in the family, were more than repaid by the comfort I enjoyed when in the family, the pecuniary remuneration I received, and particularly by his recommendation of me some time afterward to the magistrates and town-council of Montrose, in the event of the vacancy that took place on Dr Nesbitt's resignation of his charge as first minister, and his emigration to America. At that time his recommendation brought me on the carpet, and this, he said, was all he could do, as the settlement would ultimately hinge on a popular election.

"Mrs Scott was a wife in every respect worthy of such a busband. Like her partner, she was then a little past the meridian of life, of a prepossessing appearance, affectionate disposition, and fine taste, both able and and amiable manners, of a cultivated understanding, disposed to soothe her husband's mind under the asperities of business, and to be a rich blessing to her numerous progeny. But what constituted her distinguishing ornament was, that she was sincerely religious. Some years previous to my entrance into the family, I understood from one of the servants, she had been under deep religious concern about her soul's salvation, which had ultimately issued in a conviction of the truth of Christianity, and in the enjoyment of its divine consolations. She liked Dr Erskine's sermons, but was not fond of Principal Robertson's, however rational, eloquent, and well composed; and, if other things had answered, would have gone when he preached, to have heard Dr Davidson.

"Mrs Scott was a descendant of Dr Daniel Ruther

"Mr Scott was a fine looking man, then a little past the meridian of life, of dignified yet agreeable manners. His business was extensive. He was a man of tried integrity, strict morals, and one that had a respect for religion and its ordinances. The church which the family attended was the Old Greyfriars, of which the celebrated Doctors Robertson and Erskine were minis-ford, a professor in the medical school of Edinburgh; ters. Thither went Mr and Mrs Scott every Sabbath when well, attended by their fine young family of children, and their domestic servants,- -a sight so amiable and exemplary as often to excite a glow of heart-felt satisfaction in my bosom. According to an established and laudable practice in the family, the children and servants were assembled on Sunday evenings in the drawing-room, and examined on the Church Catechism, and sermons they heard delivered during the course of the day, on which occasions I had to perform the part of chaplain, and to conclude with prayer. Mr Scott was a man of highly respectable character, of sound integrity, and good religious principle from his youth. When he first came to Edinburgh to follow out his profession,

some of his school-fellows, who, like him, had come to reside in Edinburgh, attempted at first to unhinge his morals; but when they found him resolute and unshaken in his virtuous dispositions, they gave up the attempt, but instead of abandoning him altogether, they thought the more of him, and honoured him the more with their confidence and patronage, which is certainly a great inducement to young men in the outset of life, to act a similar part. After having heard of his inflexible adherence to the cause of virtue in his youth, and his regular attendance on the ordinances of religion in after life, we will not be surprised to be told, that he was one that bore a sacred regard for the Sabbath; nor will we be astonished at the following anecdote illustrative of it. An opulent farmer in East Lothian had employed Mr Scott as his agent in a cause depending before the Court of Session. Having a curiosityto see his papers,

and was one of those eminent men, who, by learning and professional skill, brought it to the high pitch of celebrity to which it has attained. This eminent man was an excellent linguist, and, according to the custom of the times, delivered his prelections to the students in Latin. Mrs Scott told me, that when prescribing to his patients, it was his custom to offer up at the same time, a prayer for the accompanying blessing of heaven. A laudable practice, in which I fear he has not been generally imitated by those of his profession."

Mr Scott's family consisted of six children, all of whom were at home when Mr Mitchell entered the family, except the oldest, who was an officer in the army. Several traits of Sir Walter's character when a boy, are given in the autobiography, which we gladly

extract:

"In all the excellencies, whether as to temper, conduct or talents, natural or acquired, which any of the children individually possessed, to Mr Walter, since the celebrated Sir Walter, must a decided pre-eminence be ascribed; though, like the rest of the children, placed under my tuition, the conducting of his education comparatively cost me but little trouble, being, by the quickness of his intellect, tenacity of memory, and diligent application to his studies, generally equal of himself to the acquisition of those books I or others prescribed to him; so that Mr Walter might be regarded, not as a pupil of mine, but as a friend and companion; and, I might add, as an assistant too, as by his example,

and admonitions, he greatly strengthened my hands, and stimulated my other pupils to industry and good behaviour. I seldom had occasion all the time I was in the family, to find fault with him even for trifles, and only once to threaten serious castigation, of which he was no sooner aware, than he suddenly sprung up, threw his arms about my neck, and kissed me. It is hardly needful to say, that now the intended castigation was no longer thought of. By such generous, and noble conduct, my displeasure was in a minute converted into esteem and admiration. My soul melted into kindness, and I was ready to mingle my tears with his. Some anecdotes in reference to him, in that early period, and some interesting and useful conversations I had with him, deeply impressed my mind, and which the lapse of near half a century has not yet obliterated; and which, even at that time, afforded no doubtful presage of his future greatness and celebrity.

"On my going into the family, as far as I can judge, he might be in his twelfth or thirteenth year a boy in the Rector's (Dr Adams) class. However elevated above the rest of the boys in genius, though generally in the list of the duxes, he was seldom, as far as I re

collect, the leader of the school. Nor need this be surprising, as it has been often observed, that boys of original genius have been far outstripped by those that were far inferior to themselves in the acquisition of dead languages. Dr Adams, celebrated for his knowledge of the Latin tongue, was deservedly held by Mr Walter in high admiration and regard.

"One forenoon, in coming from the High School, he said he wished to know my opinion as to his conduct in a matter he should state to me. When passing through the High School-yards, he found half-a-guinea on the ground. Instead of appropriating this to his own use, a sense of honesty led him to look around, and, on doing so, he espied a country man, whom he suspected to be the proprietor. Having asked the man if he had lost any thing, and he, on searching his pockets, said he had lost half-a-guinea, Mr Walter,

with pleasure, presented him with his lost treasure. In this transaction, Mr Walter's ingenuity in finding out the true owner, and his integrity in restoring property, met my most cordial approbation. When in church, Mr Walter had more of a soporific tendency than the rest of my young charge. This scemed to be constitutional. He needed one or other of the family now and then to arouse him; and from this it might be inferred, he would cut a poor figure, on the Sabbath examinations, on the subject of the sermons. But what excited the admiration of the family was, that none of the children, however attentive, could answer as he did. The only way in which I could account for this was,

that when he heard the text and divisions, his good

sense, memory, and genius, supplied the thoughts which would occur to the preacher.

"On one occasion, in the dining-room, where, according to custom, he was reading some author in the time of relaxation from study, I asked him how he

accounted for the superiority of knowledge he possessed above the rest of the family. His reply was to the effect, that some years before, he had been attacked by a swelling in one of his ankles, which confined him to the house, and prevented amusement and exercise, and which was the cause of his lameness; as under his ailment he could not romp with his brothers and the other young people, in the green in George Square, he found himself compelled to have recourse to some substitute for the juvenile amusements of his comrades,

and this substitute was reading; so that to what he, no doubt, accounted a painful dispensation of Providence, he probably stood indebted for his future celebrity.

Mr Mitchell acted with the utmost conscientiousness in the discharge of his duties as tutor in Mr Scott's

THE PORTRAITURE OF AN AGED CHRISTIAN.
A DISCOURSE.

[Preached in the Hope Street Church, Glasgow, for behoof of
the Gaelic School Society.]

BY THE REV. ROBERT BURNS, D. D. Minister of St George's Parish, Paisley. "Mnason, an old disciple."-Acтs xxi. 16. THIS is all that is recorded of the character of is comprehensive in its bearings, and it carries a Mnason; but it implies much. The statement charm along with it. Here is a venerable follower of the Lamb, accompanying on their labours of love, the apostles and evangelists of the Church; taking a deep and tender interest in their progress Christian affection, by hospitably entertaining the and success; and testifying the warmth of his

brethren in Christ.

The language of Scripture is laconic. It conveys much meaning in few words. When of Enoch and of Noah, it is recorded that they mind of every discerning reader, a most interesting "walked with God; there is conveyed to the view of the nature and effects of spiritual religion as implying the habits of amity and fellowship with God, and consistent devotedness to his service. When of Cornelius, it is said that he was a "devout man;" we recognise in the character, is designed and fitted to exalt us. the elevated tone of piety to which religious truth of "Muason of Cyprus," it is noticed, that he was And when a disciple," and "an old disciple," we immediately perceive in him, not only the common features of a true Christian, but those of a Christian far advanced in years and in grace.

66

Of his early history we know nothing; but there seems little doubt that he was among the "first-fruits of Cyprus unto Christ." It would of the inhabitants of this island, for, in the fourth appear that the Gospel was early known to some chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, we read of one Joses, who was surnamed Barnabas, and a

native of Cyprus, who was so powerfully influenced by the Gospel of Christ, as to give up all It is not, indeed, likely that at such an early period his possessions to purposes of piety and charity. preached in the island of Cyprus; but it is surely as that now alluded to, the Gospel had been probable, that Barnabas, from love to his brethren as well as love to Christ, would use his influence in promoting the spread of the Gospel among them. And we find it recorded in Acts xi. 19, "That they which were scattered abroad, upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch ;" and some of those primitive missionaries "were men of Cyprus;" with whom it is said, "that the hand of the Lord was with them, and that a great number believed, and turned to the Lord." Cyprus was once adorned by many Christian Churches, and not

a few spiritual temples were reared to the honour of him, who is the great Master-builder, who rears the temple, and who bears the glory of it. But, alas! Ichabod has long ago been inscribed in legible characters on the mouldering walls of the once stately edifice. The crescent has taken precedence of the cross. The withering blast of Mahometanism on the one hand, and Turkish despotism on the other, has swept along the surface of this once prosperous island, and hath rifled it of all its charms. The name and forms of Christianity, even in its corrupted state, are scarcely to be traced. Religion and the inhabitants of Cyprus generally, are at present in a very low and degraded condition; and I fear that few "aged disciples" are now to be seen within its limits.

Our primary object in this discourse shall be, to trace the characteristic features of an aged disciple; and then to found on them an argument in favour of the Christian and patriotic design which has led us together.

their matured and mellowed state-ripening step by step for a blessed and a glorious immortality.

I. An old disciple" should be far advanced in spiritual knowledge. We read of a certain period in the millennial age of the church, when "the child shall die an hundred years old," i. e., when there shall be such a wonderful increase of spiritual knowledge and attainment in the Church, that such as are cut off in the morning and vigour of life shall exhibit all the matureness of information and of experience which we look for in men of the most advanced years. "Days," saith the wise man, "should speak, and the multitude of years should keep knowledge." It is painful to find so many professors of the faith, whose progress in knowledge bears such an insignificant proportion to their progress in years, and the extent of their religious advantages. They learn from their teachers and their parents in early life, the elementary principles of religion, and they acquire information sufficient to secure their admission to Need I tell you what is meant by a "disciple," the sealing ordinances of grace; but they satisfy and a "disciple of Jesus." The word we know themselves with such scanty attainments. They is significant of one who learns of a teacher-a consider the great object as thus gained; and scholar. It is applied in the Gospel history most engrossed from week to week, and from year to frequently to denote the twelve apostles; but it is year, with the ceaseless round of worldly occupaused in the Acts, and in the epistles, to signify tion; instead of adding to their original acquireany "follower of Jesus-any one who professed ments, they lessen by the want of diligent exerthe faith of Christ." Those are properly termed cise, the limited stock of former years, and sink disciples," who have learned of Christ,-who, into the arms of a cold and stupid indifference. like Mary have "sat at his feet, and listened to Ministers of the Gospel who have to do with the his words," whose hearts, like that of Lydia, have understandings and the consciences of men can, been opened to attend to the things spoken of the in the course of their pastoral dealings with their Lord; who, like the jailor, have been led to cry people, record many painful instances of spiritual ont from their inmost soul, "What must I do to ignorance in professors well advanced in years, and be saved?"—who, like Saul of Tarsus, have been who have long enjoyed the advantages of an edifound in the attitude of prayer; and whose char-fying and pious ministry. It is lamentable to acter affords a just comment on his emphatic words, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

There is such a thing as a disciple in name, and a disciple in reality. You are disciples in name, when you are baptized, when you attend the house of God, when you approach the table of the Lord, and when you do not glaringly outrage your profession by deeds and by habits of revolting criminality. You become disciples in truth, as well as in name, when you are awakened to a sense of sin and of danger; when you flee to the blood of sprinkling, as the only means of deliverance from the wrath to come; when you mourn over and forsake your sins; when you devote yourselves wholly to the Lord, and "walk soberly, righteously, and godly in the world." "We are the true circumcision which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh."

But what is, or rather, what ought to be, the characteristic features of an aged disciple? If he truly answers to the title, he will not only be old in years and in Christian profession, but "old" in a far higher and nobler sense-far advanced in the graces of the Christian character-matured in the school of Christ-venerable for spiritual attainments-exhibiting the fruits of genuine holiness in

think of such professors, not merely remaining stationary in their career, but actually receding in their course, and practically departing from the living God. The scene is deeply affecting, and the voice with which it speaks to all, is a heartthrilling voice.

Now, what is the true explanation of this painful phenomenon? It is simply this, that such professors never deserved the name of " disciples" at all. They have assumed the form, but they were utterly destitute of the power of godliness; and therefore, though well stricken in years, they verify not the character of "aged disciples." If a man really believes the truth, he will make it the subject of his study. He will meditate on its varied departments by day and by night. He will familiarize himself with the sacred writings, and they will become the men of his counsel. He will use those helps which learned and pious men have provided in the shape of commentaries and explanatory remarks on the Scriptures; while he allows them not to darken or to enfeeble his impressions of the superlative value of the pure and simple word. He will take an interest in the progress of religious truth throughout the world, and will avail himself of all the facilities which his circumstances in life may afford, for enlarging his