'Sept. 28.-Delivered my sentiments to Mr. Irving fully in two hours' conversation this morning.

'Oct. 19.-Returned to town this evening, and found the church had been disturbed the preceding Sabbath.

'Oct. 21.—Attended a full meeting of session this evening. Mr. Irving very decided in the expression of his views; Mr. Henderson doubtful; all the others not convinced. Upwards of four hours spent in de

liberation.

"Oct. 28.-Attended a meeting of session, and submitted the following resolution, which, however, was not pressed to a division, but laid on the table for further consideration :

"Interruptions having taken place in the public service of the church, the session feel it their duty to declare, that they will endeavour to maintain the doctrines and discipline of the Church of Scotland, as laid down in their standards, and agreeable to the true intent and meaning of the trust-deed; and therefore they cannot recognise any teacher but their own ordained pastor, who has been set over them in the Lord (not, however, to the exclusion of other ministers lawfully called), and that they cannot suffer any interruption to any of the services of the church."

'Nov. 2.-Wrote to the session as follows :— "DEAR BRETHREN,-As I understand that you are still determined to proceed with the administration

of the Lord's Supper next Sabbath, I beg to enter my protest against the admission of new members at a time when the church is in such a state of agitation. I do earnestly beseech you to pause before you plunge yourselves into the confusion you are likely to encounter, and, like honest men, to open your eyes to the distracted state of those who were wont to assemble on these occasions, and, at least, have some regard to order.”

Nov. 15.-A most disorderly and tumultuous meeting having taken place last Sabbath, and the lives of the people being in jeopardy, so that even Mr. Irving himself was terrified, and said he would not allow the spirits again to speak in the public church, I wrote to him as follows:

"REV. AND DEAR SIR,-After the disgraceful proceedings of last Sabbath, I was in hopes that the session would have been called together ere this, and more especially, as the resolution which I proposed, and which now lies on the table, has not yet been disposed of. I trust the week will not pass without a meeting. I see no alternative, but that of pressing my resolution, or something to the same effect."

To this note no answer was returned.'

I need not enlarge any farther on this subject. If I had been inclined to do so, I have not the necessary materials at my disposal. My impression is, that Mr. Irving was himself misled by the influence of others,

less honest and ingenuous than himself, rather than by any wild or wayward tendencies of his own. And if I have adverted to the subject at all, my only object is to establish this single point, that James Nisbet, in the most trying circumstances, and in spite of influences almost irresistible, was enabled, by the grace of God, to preserve his integrity, and, in his own sphere of duty, to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. And his valour in this respect is all the more remarkable, because the conflict into which it led him with the noblest and most estimable of men, had well nigh broken his heart.

'Make sure of truth,

And truth will make thee sure;
It will not shift, nor fade, nor die,
But like the heavens endure.

God's thoughts-not man's-
Be these thy heritage;

They, like Himself, are ever young,
Untouch'd by time or age.

God's words-not man's

Be these thy gems and gold;
Be these thy never-setting stars,
Still radiant as of old.

With God alone

Is truth, and joy, and light:

Walk thou with Him in peace and love; Hold fast the good and right.

Man and his earth

Are varying day by day;

Truth cannot change, nor even grow

Feeble, and old, and grey.'

'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.'-Ps. cXXXIII. I.

HILE under the ministry of the Rev. Edward Irving, Mr. Nisbet took the liveliest interest in everything connected with the

W

wellbeing of the congregation; and both by his munificent liberalities, and his unwearied labours, as a member of the Building Committee, he contributed in no small degree to the erection of the church, which, along with the site, cost about £21,000.

After Mr. Irving had imbibed the opinions which led to the adoption of measures which terminated in his deposition, James Nisbet, and the other members of session, who remained steady to their principles, had a much more difficult work to accomplish than that which was connected with the mere erection of the building. The congregation was reduced to a