disposition, under proper management, might have been formed into a noble character; but he was neglected, and left in a great measure to himself by his first preceptor.

corn.

For two years of his life, he was under the care of Mr. Murray, teacher of an academy at AberHe was a man truly qualified for this station. He instructed his pupils with zeal; led even their amusements; and, to an exemplary piety, added the faithful counsel of a friend. He loved, and was therefore beloved. Under his superintendence, John Graham improved rapidly, and gained the affections of his teacher and companions. Happy for him had he continued in such a suitable situation. He was removed to Edinburgh to receive a more classical education. Being left there by his mother and sisters, the impetuosity of his temper, and a propensity for a sea-faring life, induced his friends to place him as an apprentice in the merchant-service. He was shipwrecked on the coast of Holland, and Mr. Gibson of Rotterdam, a friend of Mrs. Graham, took him to his house, and enabled him to come to the United States. He remained at New York for some months. His mother deemed it his duty to return to Scotland to complete his time of service. His inclination tended evidently to the profession of a sailor; she therefore fitted him out handsomely, and he embarked for Greenock in the same ship with Mr. John M. Mason, the only son of the late Dr. Mason, who went to attend the theological lectures at Divinity Hall, in Edinburgh.

Mrs. Graham's exercises of mind on parting with her son, were deep and affecting. She cast him upon the covenant mercy of her God, placing a blank, as to temporal things, in her Lord's hand, but holding on with a fervent faith and hope to the promise of spiritual life, 'Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.'

Three months afterwards, she learned that a press-gang had boarded the ship in which her son had been, and although he was saved from their grasp by a stratagem of the passengers, yet all his clothes were taken away from him. Reflecting on this event, she says, "shall I withdraw the blank I have put into the Redeemer's hands? has he not hitherto done all things well? have not my own afflictions been my greatest blessing? Lord, I renew my blank." After undergoing many sufferings, this young man wrote to his mother from Demarara, in the year 1794, that he had been made a prisoner; had been retaken; and then intended to go to Europe with a fleet which was soon to sail under convoy. His letter was couched in terms of salutary reflection on his past life, and a hope to profiting by past experience. This was the last account which Mrs. Graham had of her afflicted son. All inquiries instituted respecting him proved fruitless, and she had to exercise faith and submission, not without hope toward God, that the great Redeemer had taken care of, and would finally save, this prodigal son. She had known a

case in her father's family which excited their solicitude, and encouraged her hope. Her younger brother, Archibald Marshall, a lad of high temper, though possessed of an affectionate heart, had gone to sea, and was not heard of at all for seve ral years. A pious woman who kept a boarding house in Paisley, found one of her boarders one day reading Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul of Man, with Archibald Marshall's name written on the blank leaf. On inquiry, the stranger told her that he got that book from a young man on his death-bed, as a token of regard. That young man was Archibald Marshall-he was an exemplary Christian; "and I have reason," added he, "to bless God that he ever was my messmate." The woman, who heard this account, transmitted it to Mr. Marshall's family, who were known to her. Mrs. Graham had no such consolatory account afforded to her; but under much yearning of heart, she left this concern as well as every other, to the disposal of that God who doeth all things well.'

In the spring of 1792, she and her family were called to a severe trial, by the translation of their beloved pastor, Dr. Mason, to a better world. A few months before his decease, whilst preaching to his people, his recollection failed him, his sermon was gone from his mind, and he sat down in his pulpit unable to proceed. After a short pause, he arose and addressed his people in a pious and affectionate strain; he considered this event as a

call from his heavenly Master to expect a speedy dismission from the tabernacle of clay; and solemnly admonished them also to be prepared for the will of God. His people, who loved him, were affected to tears. An illness soon followed, which terminated in the death of the body. He parted on the night when Mrs. Graham took her turn of watching with him. He breathed his last with his head upon her lap. This she always accounted a privilege and honor bestowed upon her by her divine Master. Great was the grief of Dr. Mason's congregation on his loss. In him, to great learning were united meekness, prudence, diligence, and knowledge of the world, and an affectionate superintendence of the interests, spiritual and temporal, of his flock. He so arranged his avocations and studies in regard to time, that he had always a few hours in the afternoon to devote to visiting the families of his congregation. So regular was the order he observed in his ar rangement of time, that Mrs. Graham and her family knew when to calculate on seeing him, and always expected him with the anticipation of profit and pleasure. Once every week they were sure of seeing him, if in health. His visits were

short,his conversation serious, awakening, instructive, and affectionate. He inquired about their temporal affairs, and in cases of difficulty, he always gave them his best advice. His counsels were salutary; his knowledge of the world, and his discrimination of characters, rendered him well

qualified to advise. In one of his visits to Mrs Graham, she mentioned to him the want of good servants as the greatest trial of the time,

"Mrs.

Graham," said he, "have you ever prayed to the Lord to provide good servants for you? Nothing which interests our comfort is too minute for the care of our Heavenly Father."

To one of her daughters, who felt a strong inclination to profess her faith in Christ by joining the communion of his church, but yet was afraid that her heart was not sufficiently engaged for the service of God, Dr. Mason proposed the following question. "If," said he, " the world with all its wealth, pleasures, and power, were placed in one scale, and Christ alone in the other, which would your heart freely choose as a portion? On her replying there would be no hesitation as to her choice of Christ, he gave her encouragement to profess her faith, although it might not at present amount to the full assurance of hope.

He was indeed a faithful shepherd of his flock; and his people mourned for him as for an affectionate father. It is much to be desired that his example were more followed by Christian pastors. To preach with eloquence and acceptance, is a talent of great value in a minister of the Gospel: this makes him respected: and his congregation admire him, because, for one reason, they are proud of him: but to gain their affections; to make a congregation the children of an aged pas tor, or the friends and brethren of a younger one,