Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

under the necessity of returning to the metropolis. But the people of Fettercairn, and the other parishes around, who were attached to the cause of truth, being still firm in their determination of having him, if possible, for their pas tor, feued ground for the purpose of building a church at a place called Sauchyburn; and such was the alacrity of their exertions, that in little more than three months they had a commodious place of worship erected and finished.

Some time previous to this, however, Mr Barclay had become acquainted with Mr James MacRae, a young man, who had been a school master in Crieff, and who professed to be of the same mind with him in all points of doctrine. As this gentleman appeared to be possessed of good talents for usefulness, Mr Barclay was highly pleased with him, and accordingly recommended him to the reception of the people of Fettercairn, at the same time enjoining them to try his doctrines by the standard of the Bible. The house not being finished at his arrival, Mr McRae preached for some time in the open air. The people were in general well satisfied with him as a preacher, and desired Mr Barclay to give them a final and decisive answer, whether he himself would come and labour among them, or whether they should draw up a formal call for Mr M'Rae. Mr Barclay, conceiving that he would have an opportunity of being more extensively useful in Edinburgh, was glad that the people of Fettercairn were satisfied with Mr

[ocr errors]

McRae, and accordingly directed them instantaneously to call him as their pastor, They did so; and Mr M'Rae was regularly inducted by Mr Barclay in the spring of 1774. * The Congregation of Fettercairn at this time consisted of from one thousand to twelve hundred members, all of whom Mr Barclay had gained to the profession of the gospel, during his nine years ministry in this place.

Mr Barclay on his return to Edinburgh, so completely won the affections of his people, that be conceived they would remain as firm and steadfast to the doctrines of the gospel as the people of Fettercairn had done, even though he was not always present with them. Accordingly, Mr Barclay, being influenced by a strong desire to disseminate the truth in other quarters, after some time, left the church in Edinburgh under the care of Deacons, and went to London. For near two years he continued to preach there, at Bristol, and other places in England. He formed a church in London, and also established a meeting, which regularly assembled once a week in the evening, for the purpose of disputing with any who might be disposed to call his doctrines in question. This meeting afforded to those who were possessed of talents for reasoning, such a favourable opportunity to exert them, that many of his friends in a short time acquired very considerable powers for

In December 1773, Mr Barclay visited Newcastle, and was ordained by Mr Murray, minister of a congregational chureh there.

public speaking. By this means, useful labourers were raised up to supply those extensive fields which Mr Barclay had opened.

One of these, Mr Neilson, a surgeon, was sent down to preach to the congregation in Edinburgh, who, for want of a teacher of ability, had begun to be in rather a disunited state. Mr Neilson, by his exertions, kept them together for a considerable time, and their numbers continued to increase, until he lost the esteem of the leaders of the congregation, by an unhappy hypothesis which he framed.

Upon this, the congregation came to the resolution of sending for Mr Barclay; who, being now surrounded with men of considerable talent, could return to his former charge, without any detriment to the people in those places of England where he had planted churches.

Accordingly, after ordaining Mr Brooksbanks (who had been educated for the Church of Eng land,) pastor of the congregation which had been formed at Bristol, * and Messrs Donaldson and Bishop, pastors of the congregation in London, Mr Barclay returned to his people in Edin

Mr Brooksbanks was the author of an excellent work, entitled "The Doctrines of the Gospel stated and vindicated,” first published in 1781.—An “Appeal to the Scriptures, concerning the Assurance of Faith, in a letter to a friend, occasioned by a late charge of Antinomianism, against the author, by the Rev. Rowland Hill, and others ;"-Also, "Remarks on several Texts of Scripture; containing a Public Vindication of the Assurance of Faith, against the corrupt glosses of Papists, Arminians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Glassites, and others."

burgh. Previous to this, Mr Neilson had been sent to Paisley; thus at once making room for Mr Barclay, and also extending their usefulness. Indeed, so extensive was the awakening, excited by the public exertions of Mr Barclay, that not only in Paisley, but also in Glasgow, many disciples were gained to the cause of truth.

In 1776, Mr Barclay republished all his former works, including a large Treatise on the Sin against the Holy Ghost, not before published, in three volumes, 12mo,

In 1783, he published, in a small volume, for the more convenient use of the churches, The Epistle to the Hebrews, paraphrased,' with a collection of Psalms and Songs from his other Works, accompanied with A Close Examination into the Truth of Several Received Principles.' This volume is now very scarce.

[ocr errors]

About the time that Mr Barclay left London, a division took place among the people of Fettercairn, on account of some deviation which Mr M'Rae had made from the doctrines which he maintained at his first settlement there. Mr John Nicol was accordingly deputed to preach

[ocr errors]

* Mr Nicol was afterwards known for his Westminster Catechism Examined; and a Treatise on The Faith of the Gospel distinguished from the pretended act of Appropriation.' A second edition of the Catechism Examined was published at Kirkaldy in 1794, by William Bell, then pastor of the Berean Congregation there. And a third edition of the same book was published at Glasgow in 1815.

A second edition of the Faith of the Gospel Distinguished,' &c. was published at Glasgow in 1818.

at Fettercairn, who was the next in order as a writer, in Scotland, in vindication of those doc trines which Mr Barclay held; his works, as already noted, will prove a lasting monument of the soundness of his judgment, and of the heroism of his character. He was ordained pastor there by Mr James Donaldson, who, some time previous to this, had to leave London by the advice of the physicians, for the benefit of his health. And on coming to Fettercairn, he was very successful in recovering many from those deviations which Mr M Rae had disseminated amongst them. But having made several visits to Dundee, he gained a respectable opening there, and knowing the value of Mr Nicol's character, he prevailed upon him to occupy his station at Fettercairn, while he complied with the desire of the friends at Dundee. This arrangement, however, was not of long continuance. Mr Nicol's health gave way, and he had to be removed in consequence; but ultimately retiring to Kirkaldy, he became the planter and nourisher of a church there, where he finished his career, fighting the good fight of faith. Upon his leaving Fettercairn, Mr Alexander Rae made his appearance, and supplied the lack of his service there, for upwards of 25 years, with great success.

Mr Barclay was engaged, from the time that he left London till his death (about twenty-two years,) in watering the churches which, by the grace of God, he had planted in different places.

« AnteriorContinuar »