end." Even after the power of speech had begun to fail, he assented with delight to every promise that was mentioned in his hearing. For example, when it was said, “Let not your heart be troubled," he expressed the word, "No!" "Fear not to go down,”—“ No!" "My presence shall go with you,- "Yes!" "I will come and receive you;' "Arise, let us go hence," "Yes!" Within a very little of his departure, after speech seemed to have entirely failed, on its being remarked by a near relative, that at his first illness, in reply to the remark of his medical attendant," you are very poorly," he had said, “Yes, doctor, but He is holy;" and that, in looking back on subsequent years, and from amid his present sore afflictions, it was hoped he was still disposed to say, "but He is holy." "O, yes!" he instantly exclaimed with a convulsive exultation; and even after utterance had entirely ceased, and the words "Yes" and "No" were too much for his exhausted strength, and when it was doubtful if consciousness remained, the remark having been made, that "it was comforting, when words were impossible, that the Lord understandeth the secrets of the heart, and that we can say, 'Thou God seest me,' a glow of delight instantly illumined his whole countenance, accompanied by an attempt to speak, which was repeated at every successive promise that was mentioned in his hearing, and accompanied in each case by a most expressive smile, so that it may almost be said without a figure, that he departed smiling, leaning on the staff of the promise, and on the arm of the Beloved. He fell asleep in the attitude of prayer.

The solemn event was improved by his son and successor next Sabbath to a crowded assembly, from the words, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." After so lengthened a detail, it is unnecessary to enter into a formal delineation of character. We shall therefore conclude this notice with a sentence from one of the many consolatory communications which the tidings of Mr Forsyth's departure elicited from a wide circle of sympathising friends. It is from one of the most venerable servants of Christ now in the land of the living, the bright ornament of another church, and one of the most discriminating observers of human character. "If I mistake not," he says, "of about a hundred and thirty names which stood above mine in the Synod's roll, there is now only one which is still written among the living on earth. Had we a history of all the lives and all the deaths, I know not that we would find in all the list, one of whom we should feel more disposed to say than of Mr Forsyth, Let me live his life, and may my last end be like his.'

THE LATE DR HEUGH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNITED SECESSION MAGAZINE.

DEAR SIR,-After the lapse of nearly four months, Mr Ramsay of Crieff has at length summoned up courage to attempt a vindication of his conduct in reference to Dr Heugh; and as he has made the report of my speech, which appeared in your Magazine, the ostensible ground for the publication of the correspondence, I trust you will be able to find room for the insertion of a few remarks on the line of defence which

he has adopted. It is with the deepest reluctance and regret that I feel myself constrained to take any further notice of this wretched affair ; but the nature of Mr Ramsay's attack on my own character, and on the memory of my revered father, Dr Heugh, leaves me no alternative. As many of your readers may either not have known or may have forgotten the circumstances to which I refer, I shall begin by briefly recapitulating the admitted facts of the case. Mr Ramsay, then, admits that he had been breakfasting with Dr Heugh in his "hospitable mansion," when he imagined that he heard Dr H. make a statement at variance with truth, and that he suffered the sin to pass unnoticed and unreproved. His object in waiting upon Dr Heugh was to solicit the doctor's aid in a matter of great importance to himself and his congregation. He obtained this assistance, and thankfully acknowledged it. He asked Dr H. to confer on him the additional favour of travelling to Crieff and addressing his congregation, and this request, too, was granted. He further invited him to return and assist him at the communion, although no intercourse of this kind had previously taken place between them; and yet throughout the whole of this friendly and ministerial intercourse, and during the space of eighteen months, he never once gave Dr H. the slightest intimation of the painful impression which remained on his mind. In addition to all this, which Mr Ramsay admits, he has been charged with having revealed the matter to other individuals before mentioning it to Dr Heugh, and has not denied the charge. Dr Heugh desired him explicitly to say whether or not he had done so (and surely he had an undoubted right to put such a question); but Mr Ramsay took care to avoid all notice of it. Mr M'Gill has since brought the same point under his attention, but with a similar result. After this it is scarcely necessary for me to say, that this question can only be answered with truth in the affirmative”—that I know, and am able to prove, that he revealed the whole matter many months before communicating with Dr Heugh on the subject, and yet he would have us to believe that his most culpable delay in writing Dr H., was "occasioned by the conflict between delicacy and duty, which could injure no one and no feelings but his own.'

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Your readers, I have no doubt, will be ready to ask, since Mr Ramsay confesses himself guilty of so much that is discreditable, and has been charged with so much more which he has not ventured to deny, what is it that he complains of? As far as can be gathered from his narrative, which, though drawn up with a good deal of cunning, is not over perspicuous, his grounds of complaint are twofold. In the first place, he complains bitterly of "the virulent indignation and passionate wrath," and " of the amazing loss of temper," displayed in Dr Heugh's letter to him, repelling the foul charge brought against his character, and he speaks of his having a right to an apology or explanation for the harsh and uncourteous manner in which Dr H. treated him. He will find few to sympathise with this complaint. The letter is now before the public, and they can judge for themselves on the subject. In order to do so fairly, it is necessary to keep in mind the whole circumstances which I have just mentioned. Let it be remembered also, that Mr Ramsay assigned no reason to Dr Heugh for his long delay in communicating with him on the subject,—that he spoke

with no hesitation in making the charge,-that he did not ask if the words referred to had been used, or say that he thought they had been used; but affirmed, in the most unqualified terms, that Dr H. had stated what was untrue. It was under these circumstances that Dr Heugh's letter was written; and I feel assured that every honourable mind will regard it as containing nothing but the expression of righteous indignation, which every man of high honour, conscience, and integrity, must have felt at such an accusation, made in such a manner, and under such circumstances. Naturally enough, Mr Ramsay is of a different opinion. In his own estimation, he is an exceedingly ill-used individual; he sees 66 no room for repentance," requires no forgiveness. In all that he has done, he was actuated by conscientious convictions, and only discharged a christian duty, on account of which he has been very injuriously aspersed by Dr Heugh, who has treated him "with wrath and indignation," when acting" according to Christ's rule, and in the spirit of brotherly kindness." The bitter grudge which, on these grounds, he still cherishes against Dr Heugh breaks out again and again in the course of his letters. After having been informed that that venerable man of God was just dying, he writes in the following terms, which I shall not venture to characterise :- "The only expression of regret which I should suppose at all calculated to soothe his mind in the prospect of death would be his own, an expression of regret which is righteously due' to me, for the manner in which he treated me while I was writing to him in the spirit of brotherly and christian affection, according to the rule of Christ, and thus doing him an act of kindness and of justice."

Forgiveness to the injured does belong,

But they ne'er pardon who have done the wrong.

Secondly, Mr Ramsay complains of the injustice done him, in its being alleged that he was in combination with Mr Marshall in the steps which he took in this case. He expresses no regret at having indirectly, if not directly, furnished Mr M. with the materials for his malignant attack-no disavowal of sympathy with the attack itself. On the contrary, it is evident that as far as this matter at least is concerned, he sympathizes with it to its full extent; but he alleges that "certain erroneous and injurious statements" have been propagated respecting his connexion with that attack. His language on this point is characterised by great disingenuity, and is certainly calculated to convey an impression the very reverse of the truth. The facts of the case are simply these :During the last meeting of Synod, at the close of Mr Marshall's defence, the Synod, at my suggestion, put to him the following questions— "When were you first made acquainted with the facts of this case?" (The correspondence between Dr Heugh and Mr Ramsay). "Was it before the brother referred to (Mr R.) wrote to Dr Heugh on the subject?" "Did you advise him to write Dr H.?" "Did you know of his intention to do so before it was carried into effect?" In his reply, Mr Marshall declared, that he did not advise Mr R. to write Dr H., but he refused to answer the other questions, and added that he did so "lest his answer should criminate or inculpate Mr Ramsay, and subject him to similar treatment with himself." On this answer, which produced a very marked impression on the numerous audience who heard it, I

6

remarked, in the course of my speech, that Mr Marshall had not only "refused to answer my questions, but had done so on the ground that his answer might criminate the person referred to.' Now, if the question had been answered in the negative, so far from criminating him, the answer would have removed a most painful suspicion which now hung over his character and conduct; the inference was, therefore, unavoidable, that the question could only be answered with truth in the affirmative." If Mr Marshall had merely refused to answer the ques tions put to him, as Mr Ramsay would fain have us to believe, it would certainly have been unfair to have concluded that they could only be answered in the affirmative, but my argument was avowedly and most explicitly founded entirely on the ground of Mr Marshall's refusal, and not on the fact of the refusal; and I appeal to every candid person, whether it was possible to reason in any other way on the subject, or to draw any other inference than that which I drew. If, therefore, injustice has been done to Mr Ramsay in the matter, the blame rests not with me, but with his friend and eulogist, Mr Marshall. I crave attention, however, to the significant fact, that Mr Ramsay, while affirming that Mr M. did not know beforehand of his intention to write Dr H., has never yet ventured to deny that he did in some way communicate to Mr M. the facts of the case before mentioning them to Dr Heugh; and moreover, Mr Marshall attempted to palliate to the Synod Mr Ramsay's most culpable delay in taking the proper steps in regard to this matter, by alleging as an apology, that he (Mr R.) had ultimately seen reason to entertain a less favourable opinion of Dr Heugh's integrity than he had formerly done-a statement which showed how completely he was in Mr Ramsay's confidence on this subject. It may not be out of place to mention, that one circumstance which tended peculiarly to excite Dr Heugh's indignation, at the foul attack made upon him by Mr Ramsay, was his conviction, that after the lapse of so long a period the matter would never have been mentioned to him at all, but for the part which he had taken in connexion with the atonement controversy. The above mentioned apology for Mr Ramsay's conduct, will show how correctly the Doctor had judged on the subject. Mr Ramsay admits that he has read the report of my speech on this case; there is the clearest evidence indeed, that he must have written with the report before him, and yet in his preface to the correspondence, he has not merely suppressed the argument which I really used, but has garbled my words-represented me as using an argument which I never employed, and as saying, that "because Mr M. refused to answer it (my question), the inference was therefore unavoidable, that it could only be answered with truth in the affirmative;" and he has actually devoted nearly one-half of his preface to the refutation of an argument which he has thus fabricated and put into my mouth.

With these facts before them, I doubt not your readers will agree in thinking, that Mr Ramsay would have acted more wisely for himself, if he had allowed this matter to rest in its former position. His attempt to exculpate himself, affords a striking proof of the maxim, that the weakness of a bad cause is never thoroughly known till it is defended. I am, dear Sir, yours very truly, JAMES TAYLOR.

4, CANNING PLACE, GLASGOW, Sept. 10, 1846.

NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

The LIFE of JOSEPH, and the LAST YEARS of JACOB: A Book for Youth and for Age. By RALPH WARDLAW, D.D.

Glasgow: Maclehose. 1845.

Even

mentary on one of the most beautiful tales in the inspired volume. Voltaire, if we remember rightly, breaks into admiration of the life of Joseph; and what christian parent, in reading it to WE recollect of Robert Hall's once re- his children, has not read its pathos and marking to Mr Greene, on the great ad- beauty in their trembling interest and vantages derived by Scottish congrega- tears. Two excellent popular expositions from the custom of "lecturing," tions on the life of Joseph already exist, pursued in almost all our Scottish pulpits. the one marked by the strong good He ascribes much of the theological sense of Andrew Fuller, and the other superiority of the people, in this part of by the judicious statement and unadornthe island, to this very practice, and mourns over its rarity and unpopularity south of the Tweed. We concur in his sentiment with all cordiality, and even for additional reasons to those which he

states.

The practice of " lecturing" was never better described than in the language of scripture-reading the words, and causing the people to understand the meaning. Now, the very practice favours the idea which ministers should never cease to keep paramount among their people, that of the supreme authority of the word of God. To an intelligent minister, few things should be more gratifying than to see his people with their open bibles before them turning with him to his every reference, and following him with interest from verse to verse of his exposition. Interest too is more likely to be sustained by the variety which every able lecturer has in his power to command, while innumerable hints may be given and reproofs administered, which could not without incongruity be made the theme of a distinct discourse, or without unnatural force be interwoven with the unities of a sermon.

ed simplicity of our own Dr Lawson, but we do not the less hail the appearance of Dr Wardlaw on this beautiful field, or, while acknowledging along with him, the labours of these earlier expositors, the less thank him for the new and elegant lights which he throws over it.

Perhaps we can scarcely convey to our readers a better idea of the spirit in which Dr Wardlaw enters on his work, or of the manner in which he executes it, than by quoting his introductory remarks on this part of the inspired narrative.

"And on the narrative of these fortunes, (Joseph's), I enter with the mingled feelings of delight and apprehension. Of DELIGHT; for the story itself is replete with intense and finely diversified interest,-in what light soever we contemplate it; whether in its exquisite touches of human nature and inimitable development of human character,—or as furnishing one of the most wonderful exemplifications of the secret principles and the complicated yet unembarassed operations of divine providence ;—and, moreover, because to many, it may be Did we seek for a happy illustration to most of us, it is surrounded and inof these remarks, we should scarcely find corporated with the most pleasing remina better than in the volume before us, iscences and interesting associations of -the work of a master in Israel. It is our early childhood. The story of long since Dr Wardlaw acquired for " Joseph and his brethren" we knew himself a high name as a controversialist, before we were able to read it for ourand while successfully vindicating some selves. We have stood at our father's of the truths most surely believed among or our mother's knees,—or we have formus, he at same moment overcame the hos-ed the little circle around the domestic lity and won the admiration of his oppo- fireside, and have hung, all ear and eye, nents by his graceful elegance and christian urbanity. His work on Ecclesiastes, has long since also demonstrated his powers as an expositor of scripture, but this, so far as we know, is the first example of his qualifications for historical exposition.

We welcome it as a beautiful com

upon the detail of its marvellous and touching incidents. In the course of its progressive details, our little hearts have gone through almost all the possible variations of feeling. They have, alternately, shuddered with horror, glowed with indignation, melted with pity, throbbed with anxiety, sunk in grief, swelled