subject of narration. Besides performing the ordinary duties of the pastoral function, a minister of Edinburgh, in virtue of his office, is much occupied with public meetings on business of various kinds, especially the management of the different charitable foundations which have long been the boast of the capital of Scotland. Among other objects of such official care is the Fund established by Act of Parliament for a Provision to the Widows and Children of Ministers in the Church of Scotland. As one of the Trustees appointed by the Act, he had long taken a leading part in conducting the business of this charity; and when the growing prosperity of the Fund had paved the way for an increase of its capital, Dr. MACKNIGHT was nominated by the Trustees, along with the celebrated Dr. WEBSTER, (to whose benevolent exertions this valuable institution was much indebted for its establishment), as a Commissioner, to solicit a renewal of the Act of Parliament. This accordingly was obtained in 1779; fixing the capital at £100,000, and making other alterations for the benefit of the Fund. After the death of Dr. WEBSTER, Dr. MACKNIGHT was appointed joint Collector with Sir H. MONCRIEFF WELLWOOD, Bart.; a colleague whose great ability and talents for business peculiarly qualified him, as experience has since shown, for the important office which he still holds, with the highest credit to himself and advantage to the Fund.

The line of conduct which Dr. MACKNIGHT pursued with regard to the points of ecclesiastical policy that have long divided the members of the Church of Scotland, was different from what might have been presumed, in consequence of the first impressions on these topics which, it is probable, he had received from his father. But after mature deliberation, with that manliness and self-decision which marked his character, he adopted the principles that were to regulate his future conduct in the Church Courts; and, throughout life, he acted steadily on that system of ecclesiastical policy which, for many years past, has guided the decisions of the General Assembly. At the same time, he firmly resisted whatever appeared to him as any infringement on the constitutional law or practice of the Church; and accordingly, when some of his friends seemed to wish for the abolition of calls, as an unnecessary form in the settlement of ministers, he moved and carried a resolution of the Assembly, 1782 (relative to certain overtures on the subject, then under the discussion of the house), " Declaring, That the moderation of a call in settling ministers, is agreeable to the immemorial and constitutional practice of this Church; and that it ought to be continued:" a resolution which was afterwards converted into a Declaratory Act, and printed as such in the proceedings of the Assembly for that year.

Of Dr. MACKNIGHT it may in general on this head be recorded, that no member of the Church to which he belonged ever, perhaps, entertained more just or profound views respecting the great fundamental principles of her constitution and laws, or concerning the nature and distinctive powers of her several judicatories; and that in relation to the business which usually occupies the General Assembly, either in its judicative or in its legislative capacity, he always formed a clear, sound, and decisive judgment. On this account he was often consulted by the leading members of that Court; and, on several important occasions, his professional advice and assistance were of essential service to the magistrates of Edinburgh, with regard to the ecclesiastical arrangements of the city. But what chiefly engaged his mind, and occupied his time, after he became a minister of Edinburgh, was the execution of his last and greatest work, on the Apostolical Epistles; which was published in 1795, in four volumes quarto. Respecting this work it is perhaps

not unworthy of being told, that it was the result of the unremitting labour of almost thirty years; that notwithstanding his numerous professional avocations, the author, while composing it, was seldom less than eleven hours every day employed in study; and that before it came to the press, the whole manuscript had been written no less than five times with his own hand. At the time of publishing The New Translation of the Apostolical Epistles, with a Commentary and Notes,' Dr. MACKNIGHT was highly indebted to the patronage of the Duke of Grafton; and after the work made its appearance, he received the most honourable testimonies of approbation from many of the Bishops and respectable dignitaries of the Church of England, as well as from the ablest divines of all descriptions.

After the publication of this work, Dr. MACKNIGHT considered himself as having accomplished the greatest object of his life; and wishing to enjoy, at the end of his days, some relief from the labour of study, he resisted the repeated solicitations of his friends, who earnestly urged him to undertake the illustration of the book of the Acts, on the same plan which he had so successfully followed in the explaining the other parts of the New Testament. But soon after this period, from the want of their usual exercise, a sensible decline of his faculties, particularly a failure of his memory, was observed by his family. This fact is a striking instance of the analogy between the powers of the body and those of the mind, both of which suffer by inaction; and it furnishes a useful caution to those who have been long habituated to any regular exertion of mind, against the once desisting entirely from its usual efforts; since the effect, in the course of nature, is not only to create languor, but to hasten the progress of debility and failure.

As yet, however, Dr. MACKNIGHT's bodily vigour seemed to be but little impaired. In early life he was afflicted with frequent headachs; but after he had reached the age of thirty, they seldom returned; and he afforded a singular instance of a sedentary life long continued, with hardly any of those complaints which it usually induces. This uninterrupted enjoyment of health he owed, under Providence, to a naturally robust make, and a constitution of body uncommonly sound and vi gorous; along with regular habits of temperance, and of taking exercise, which he did by walking nearly three hours every day.

Having finished the task he had prescribed to himself as an author, he mingled frequently in the society of his friends, from which, at intervals, he had always received much enjoyment; and long retained the same cheerfulness of temper for which, at the hours of relaxation from severe study, he had been remarkable, when in the company of those whom he esteemed. Even after the symptoms of his decline were become visible, his natural sagacity and strength of judgment, as well as his extensive and familiar knowledge of the Scriptures, were still to be discerned in his conversation and public appearances; and so habitual was his anxiety to discharge his duty, that he insisted on officiating for a considerable time after his friends had wished him to withdraw from public labour. It was not, indeed, without much entreaty, that he at last consented to accept the services of an assistant.

At this period of his life it was peculiarly fortunate for him, that in Dr. GRIEVE, who became his colleague after the death of Dr. HENRY, he found a companion of the most amiable manners, and a friend of distinguished worth and respectability, from whom he experienced every office of attention and kindness. When he was at length no longer able to prosecute his favourite studies, the judicious opinions, and extensive information of his very accomplished and learned colleague, frequently afforded

him in conversation a source of interesting entertainment. These proofs of respect and attachment have laid his family under perpetual obligation; and gratitude forbids, that any account of him should be given to the world without an acknowledgment of the friendly assiduities which cheered and supported his declining years.

The disease which terminated his life was the Peripneumonia Notha, occasioned by an incautious exposure to the severity of the weather, about the end of December, 1799. This distemper, in its progress and issue, resisted the ablest and most assiduous efforts of medical skill. During his illness, his mind was composed, tranquil, and resigned; he never complained; and on the morning of the 13th of January, 1800, he expired with out a struggle. As in the course of the preceding night he slept but little, the time was employed in hearing passages from the Psalms and Evangelists, which by his own desire were read to him by one of his family. Thus, having spent his life in illustrating Scripture, and exerted the last efforts of his attention in listening with delight to its precious words of peace to the righteous, he may be truly said to have slept in Jesus.

THE character of a man whose life was devoted to a single object of incessant study, can hardly be expected to afford scope for much variety of delineation. Perhaps the circumstances which have been related, sufficiently indicate its prominent features; and we might leave the consideration of it with observing, that it was strongly marked by vigour, firmness, good sense, and unbending integrity. Yet we shall find, on a near inspection, that it is not unworthy of being contemplated more minutely; because it exhibits some traits of professional virtue, on which the mind may, for a little, dwell with pleasure and advantage. Such examples in real life illustrate the excellence of pure religion; and it is with peculiar interest that we read descriptions which make us familiarly ac quainted with those who have contributed, by their labours, to the instruction or the consolation of mankind.

As a clergyman, the sentiments and conduct of Dr. MACKNIGHT were equally characterized by consistence and propriety. In the discharge of every public and private duty of religion, with a constant reliance on divine aid, he was regular and steady. He knew and felt what became the sacred office which he held; and never departed on any occasion from the dignity or decorum of his professional character. Having given himself wholly to the meditation of divine things, he continued in them: In the work of his Master he was steadfast and faithful to the end. His piety was at once sincere, rational, and without ostentation. To be useful in the cause of truth and virtue, was his highest ambition: and with all the means of attaining this end, which the resources of a wellinformed and liberal mind could supply, he united a zeal for the interests of Christianity, that terminated only with his life.

In that branch of the pastoral office which is called lecturing, his learning and ability were much admired, and never failed to please, as well as to instruct and edify, in a degree which has seldom been equalled. As a preacher, also, without pretensions to the graces of elocution, he had a certain earnestness of manner, evidently proceeding from the heart, and from a sincere anxiety to be useful, which always commanded the attention, and excited the interest of the hearers. In doctrine he showed uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity; his sentiments were just, energetic, and impressive; and his constant object was to press on the minds of his people the truths necessary for the correction of vice, and the advancement of piety, knowledge, and goodness. With this view he may be said to have affected a greater than usual plainness of diction.

It is true, that to be perspicuous and intelligible to the most illiterate of his audience, ought to be always the chief object of a preacher. But this may be accomplished with a strict adherence to purity of language; and it must be confessed, that the difficulty is great of frequently employing familiar expressions, without descending from that propriety which is indispensable to the dignity of the pulpit. It may be added, that his inexhaustible variety of thought and expression in prayer, bespoke a mind richly stored with religious ideas, and at once surprised and delighted those who regularly attended his ministry.

When engaged, either in private controversy or in the public debates of the church courts, he was always remarkable for speaking strictly to the point at issue. He was likewise distinguished by coolness, discretion, and command of temper; he listened with patience to the arguments of his opponents, and in delivering his opinions, he showed himself uniformly open, candid, and explicit. At the same time, his talent was rather that of business than of address; he appeared to be better fitted for deciding on the merits of a question in debate, than for soothing the passions or managing the humours of mankind-a qualification rarely possessed but by minds of a superior order. On every occasion he thought and acted with the energy of a self-deciding upright mind. And hence it is that all his writings evince the sentiments of a masculine independent spirit, uninfluenced by authority, and unfettered by prejudice.

Nor was his praise merely that of professional excellence. On various subjects his range of knowledge was ample and profound. Thus his taste for classical literature was early formed. He perused the writers of antiquity with critical skill; and of his acquaintance with the Greek language, especially the original of the New Tes tament, his observations on the force of the particles, in his commentary, are a sufficient proof. In the speculations, also of metaphysical, moral, and mathematical science, he was a considerable proficient. The fact is, his powers were such as might have been turned with advantage to any department of knowledge or learning.

It may further be noticed, that in conducting the ordinary affairs of life he displayed uncommon prudence and sagacity. He was one of those who are generally attentive to small concerns, but on proper occasions show themselves liberal to a high degree. Of this different instances occurred in the course of his transactions with his friends; and he was enabled to act on such a principle of generosity by his usual habits of economy and prudence. Dr. MACKNIGHT'S external appearance was sufficiently expressive of his character. His countenance was manly and commanding, and his gait remarkably erect and firm.

AGREEABLY to the plan of this sketch, any critical account of Dr. MACKNIGHT's works cannot with propriety be given here. It may only be observed, in general, that his reputation for sound criticism, extensive knowledge, and clear elucidation of the sacred writings, is rapidly increasing amongst Christians of every denomination; and he must be acknowledged to have been one of the most intelligent, judicious, and candid expositors of the Scriptures that ever appeared. Even during his own lifetime his diligence was rewarded by an ample portion of respectable fame. The "Harmony of the Gospels" has long been esteemed a work of standard excellence for the students of evangelical knowledge. His "Truth of the Gospel History" has hitherto attracted the notice of the public less than any of his other productions: but it well deserves to be more generally read, since, of what it proposes to establish, it contains the most satisfying views that can be suggested by learning, acuteness, and good sense, and is admitted by the best of judges to be a per

formance as useful and instructive as any we have on that important subject.

The Commentary on the Apostolical Epistles' is now held in peculiar estimation; and it may be doubted whether the scope of the sacred authors of these writings was ever, in any former age of Christianity, so fully, clearly, and happily stated, as has been done by Dr. MACKNIGHT in the general Views and Illustrations which he has prefixed to the several Chapters of the Epistles.-In this able, judicious, and learned Work, the Author's method of explaining the Scriptures is everywhere employed with the greatest success. His object was to discover the meaning of the inspired writers in difficult passages, from a comprehensive view of all the circumstances to which they allude, without regard to interpretations of mere human authority. Hence, although on principle attached to the established standards of the Church of Scotland, he did not conceive it as any advantage to the system which he maintained, to urge in support of its peculiar doctrines every passage which zeal without knowledge may have employed for that purpose. Nothing, in fact, tends more to injure the cause of truth and religion than an injudicious appeal to Scripture; or the attempt to establish opinions by the sanction of scriptural words or passages, quoted singly, without regard to what precedes or follows them, and thus invested with a meaning, more than probably, entirely different from what was intended by the sacred writers. Of this mistaken application Dr. MACKNIGHT has shewn various instances; remarking, that when a doctrine is sufficiently established by any passage in which it is expressly or undoubtedly declared, we only weaken it by any appeal to other passages, of which the application to that doctrine may be dubious, or at best equivocal.-Accordingly it must be allowed, that in this method of eliciting the true meaning of Scripture, by a due respect to parallel passages, and the design of the whole context, the exposition and views which, with much sagacity of critical investigation, our Author has given of Paul's Epistles, are extremely natural, acute, and sensible.

The Life of the Apostle Paul, which concludes this Work, is an excellent compendium of the apostolical History; and may be considered as the Author's view and illustration of the Acts of the Apostles-the only part of the New Testament writings (except the Revelation of St. John) to which the labours of Dr. MACKNIGHT, as a Commentator, were not directed. In all his writings, his style, though unambitious of elegance or ornament, is perspicuous, and appropriate to the subject.

Dr. MACKNIGHT enjoyed the friendship and esteem of many eminent characters among his contemporaries of the same profession. In the number of these were Dr. BLAIR and Dr. ROBERTSON, to whose attachment he owed much on different occasions. If the portrait which has been given in this account is a faithful resemblance, the name of him whom it represents may now be considered as not unworthy to be associated, in future times, with those of the men in whose society, during his lifetime, he had often the happiness of passing his hours, and whose works will live as the glory of Scottish literature, while civilization and refinement exist.

Dr. ERSKINE and Dr. FINDLAY had been the compaions of his early youth; and although in his opinions on some points of Church policy he differed from these venerable persons, so universally esteemed for piety and profound theological learning, their mutual regard continued unaltered through life.

From Lord HAILES he received many valuable hints relative to the early state of Christianity, of which he availed himself in his last Work.

The proofs of respect which he experienced from many of his younger brethren in the Church, were highly gra

tifying to Dr. MACKNIGHT. Among his friends of this description, there were two for whom he entertained a peculiar esteem; and each of them had an opportunity of paying a public tribute of regard to his memory, in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which ought not to pass unrecorded. Principal HILL, with that impressive and dignified eloquence which has long been celebrated as having a powerful influence on the decisions of the Assembly, characterized him as "a venerable Father, who ranked among the most eminent Divines that the Church of Scotland has produced; who often spoke in this House with great ability, and profound knowledge of the subject on which he delivered his opinion; who was a master in our Israel, concerning all points of ecclesiastical law; and by whose theological labours, conducted during a long life with unremitting assiduity, and directed to the most valuable objects, all of us now daily profit."-To Dr. FINLAYSON, of whose firmness, sagacity, and accurate knowledge, he early appreciated the future value to the Church, Dr. MACKNIGHT was strongly attached by a certain congeniality of mind; and he often had great pleasure in discussing various subjects of his attention, with a friend so remarkable for acuteness, judgment, and strength of intellect. It accorded with the sentiments of all his brethren, when Dr. FINLAYSON, officially reporting to the Assembly the death of Dr. MACKNIGHT, as joint Collector of the Fund already mentioned, said, that "his deep learning, sound judgment, and great respectability of character, had rendered him one of the brightest ornaments of our Church."

Soon after the time of his being ordained, Dr. MacKNIGHT married ELIZABETH M'CORMICK, eldest daughter of the worthy and respectable SAMUEL M'CORMICK, Esq. General Examiner of the Excise in Scotland-a lady whose humane and charitable character endeared her to the people in every parish where her husband has officiated as pastor; and whose tender feelings of sympathy for distress, unwearied activity of benevolence, and constant anxiety to promote the happiness of all whom her kind offices can reach, are still known, and will long be remembered with approbation in the circle where Providence has blessed her with opportunities of doing good. By her Dr. MACKNIGHT had four sons: The eldest, a very promising child, died at the age of seven. Another reached the age of thirty-three, after having suffered much from a lingering distemper, which at last proved fatal to him. The loss of this very amiable young man was the chief distress which Dr. MACKNIGHT experienced in the course of his long and useful life.-Of his family now remaining, one is engaged in a department of the Profession of the Law, and the other is a Clergyman of the Church of Scotland.

THIS plain and cursory narrative, which must now be brought to a close, is another proof of what has frequently been remarked, that the history of men whose lives have been spent in the acquisitions of learning, are generally barren of those incidents which excite an interest in the details of biography.-Continually occupied with the duties of his office, with his studies, and his writings, Dr. MACKNIGHT seldom mingled in what may be called the bustle of the world, and had no share in the political transactions of the day. For engaging in these, indeed, as already hinted, he was little qualified, either by the natural bent of his mind, or by his usual habits of life. But he has left behind him a reputation superior to that which is conferred by the pursuits of ambition, or the lustre of events creating only a temporary interest in the passions of men; and his name will probably be remembered with veneration, as long as the study of divine truth continues to be cultivated in the Christian world.