to the Lord's table for the first time, and said, with much feeling, "I am an old man, Sir, and I have lived the greater part of my life in carelessness and sin; always, indeed, till I happened to step into church one Thursday when you were preaching, when I was so affected by the sermon that I hope I am now a changed man. Your text was, Behold, I stand at the door and knock; and the particular thought that stuck to me was, that Christ's posture in knocking was a standing posture, and that, therefore, if I refused to hear and to open my heart to receive him, he might depart to return no more." But the number of such cases will not be known till the great day declare it.

The good effects produced by his public instructions were confirmed and increased by his private ministrations. In these he was condescending, kind, and diligent. He was much engaged in visiting the sick and comforting the afflicted; and for these duties he was singularly qualified, by his mild and soothing manner. He was frequently called on to pray at funerals; and his prayers on these occasions were peculiarly solemn, and calculated to excite and to strengthen serious feelings in the hearts of those who were present. To

children also he was exceedingly attentive; and he had a happy talent in expressing himself in a way adapted to their capacity, and in leading them to understand the principles of religion.

In the year 1809, Mr. Ross received an honourable testimony of approbation. The Moderator of the Synod of Aberdeen having been prevented from coming up, Mr. Ross, after the hour of worship had arrived, expressed his willingness to of ficiate in his place. His offer was unanimously accepted by the members; and he preached a sermon before them which was so much to their satisfaction, that the Faculty of Marischal College, some of whose members had been present, created him a Doctor of Divinity, from the general sense which they entertained of his merit, as well as from the impression made by this discourse.

In the uniform tenour of Dr. Ross's life little occurred of the nature of incident to furnish materials for an extended biography; but every day was filled with useful exertion, and his usefulness was experienced in various capacities. His early habits of instructing youth in the different branches of knowledge which he taught, fitted him for visiting the many schools in Aberdeen with advan

tage to the scholars, for examining the candidates for schools before the presbytery, and for giving great assistance in the inspecting of the accounts and in the managing of the affairs of charitable institutions, which he did with much attention and accuracy. Indeed, no inconsiderable portion of his time was occupied in attending the frequent meetings connected with the numerous institutions in Aberdeen for benevolent purposes, for the instruction of youth, and the relief of the sick and the poor. For many years, being senior minister of the town, he filled the office of Patron of the Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen, assisting the members by his advice in the management of their affairs, examining their accounts, directing them in the distribution of their charities, and enjoying their regard for his character and services.

As Dr. Ross was always ready to embrace whatever opportunity presented the prospect of advancing the good of individuals, of the community, or of mankind in general, so he took a particular interest in the plans that have been devised by Christian benevolence for diffusing the knowledge of the Gospel throughout the world. When it was proposed to institute an Auxiliary Bible Society in Aberdeen, Dr. Ross was a cordial pro

moter of that object, and was appointed one of the Secretaries of the Institution. In this сараcity he was of essential service to the interests of the society, to which he not only contributed liberally, but also devoted a part of his time and attention to the conducting of all the necessary arrangements for the distributing of Bibles among those who were found to be destitute of them. Many of the annual reports of the Aberdeen Bible Society were written by him. He was much gratified by the forming of an association for these purposes among the Theological Students in Aberdeen; in reference to which he thus expressed himself, when writing to a friend at a distance: "No society that has yet been formed appears to me more interesting than this. I trust that, through the divine blessing, it may be the means of directing the minds of many of our young men, both in this and in the other Universities, to so important an object.”

A few years before his death, Dr. Ross was visited in Providence by one of the severest trials of life-the loss of his only son; in whose society, attainments, and most engaging dispositions, he had enjoyed, during the time that the blessing was continued with him, all the happiness that

the heart of a parent could desire. The trial was severe; but so well did he bear it, as to exhibit, without ostentation, a complete triumph of Christian principle. The state of his mind in the anxious period of suspense during his son's last illness, is expressed in the following extract from a letter written to a friend at the time: " My feelings may be easier conceived than described. I have, however, hitherto been enabled to discharge my public duties. My strength has been equal to my day; and, as present grace for present need is promised by my all-gracious and compassionate Redeemer, who knows my frame and my frailty, I trust he will still enable me to wait upon him, even in the way of his judgments. The design of this dispensation with respect to myself will then only be answered, when I can give God my whole heart. I pray and strive that this design may be accomplished. He who said of his disciples, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, is the same compassionate Saviour now that he was then." By these devout exercises of mind, and by the supply of divine grace which is never wanting to prayer and trust, he was prepared for the stroke. When it did arrive he submitted to it without a murmur, and went on in his ministry with increased affection for his people, and with