CHAPTER VII.

SKETCHES OF HIS RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE.

THE quotation with which the last chapter closed, may be considered as descriptive of Mr. Buchanan's experience of spiritual things. As he advanced towards the close of his short life, and drew nearer to the "rest that remains for the people of God," he grew increasingly humbled under a sense of his own vileness, and repeated failures in striving to attain to a conformity to the Divine will. He could say with the apostle, “In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ... I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

These truths he was continually taught to experience; and so incessantly did he feel the plague of his own heart, and perceive how poor were his attempts to love and serve God, that had he not had a believing view of Christ, and a reliance on his promises, he would have sunk under a sense of his own unworthiness and guilt. But having been taught by the Spirit of God, by Him who leadeth into all truth, how God can be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus; and being enabled to believe on him who justifieth the ungodly, he had a good hope through grace of pardon and peace; which hope he held fast "as the anchor of his soul, both sure and stedfast." Likewise his desires for a closer walk with God became more lively; and he sought more earnestly in persevering prayer "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," to subdue his iniquities, and to transform him more perfectly into the Divine image.

The writer remembers seeing him often broken-hearted under a sense of some freshcontracted transgression. At such seasons he would contrast the mercy, forbearance, goodness, and love of God towards himself with his

own rebellion, ingratitude, and unworthiness; and not unfrequently have the tears which flowed down his cheeks evinced the contrition of his soul.

Mr. S. remarked that these lapses, though criminal in themselves, are often made the means of destroying in us all legal dependence, of humbling us, of endearing to us more fully the righteousness of Christ, and ultimately, therefore, of advancing us in righteousness and true holiness. God may judicially punish us for one sin by permitting us to fall into another, thereby causing us to suffer severely. This will embitter sin more than ever, and make us to see more of the evil it contains. Speaking of this method of humbling the believer, Mr. Buchanan would often say, "But it is a painful process: it is distressing, when we would be all that is good, to find that we are all vile and polluted." The deeply experimental sentiments expressed in the following hymn found a ready response in his heart:

I ask'd the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and hope, and every grace-
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.

"Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answered prayer;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.

I hop'd that in some favour'd hour,
At once he'd grant me my request;
And by his love's constraining power,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Lord, why is this? I trembling cried;
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
"Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ

From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of worldly joy,
That thou may'st seek thy all in me.

As Mr. Buchanan's spiritual progress manifested itself, he appeared more interested in contemplating the law of God. The clearness of his views on this important subject showed that he was taught of Him who hath said, "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts." The extent of its

demands, its holy nature, its blessed tendency, were clearly seen and acknowledged by him. While he felt that by the law could no flesh be justified in the sight of God, he knew that Jesus having fulfilled it in every part, his righteousness is imputed to all who believe in his name for justification unto life. As he advanced in the knowledge of the law of God, he became more savingly acquainted with Jesus also as the appointed Mediator between God and man, in his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King: he thence began even to glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh; and viewed him as "of God made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."

The periods to which this chapter relates were the end of 1824 and the commencement of the following year. Till the spring of this year, his bodily state remained without much variation: he appeared neither to be advancing towards recovery, nor decidedly getting worse this stationary condition not a little tried his patience, since it was composed of wearisome days, and more wearisome nights. He endeavoured to be