BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 279
juvenile years, amply testified how unremitting were the instructions and care of
maternal solicitude. Naturally of a sprightly intellect, he made rapid progress
in his education ; and, at the Grammar School of Glasgow, he distinguished
himself by carrying away the second prize the first year, and thejrst prize the
three following years of his attendance. At the University, where he studied
for five years, his success was such, that a gentleman of great influence, to whom
his merit was well known, and who admired his character and talents, gave him
assurance of an excellent living, if he would pursue his theological studies in
connection with the Established Church ; but, immovably attached to the
principles he had imbibed from his parents, and adopted from mature jnd,pent,
he politely and unhesitatingly declined the offer, and entered on a course of
theological studies, under the Rev. *John Brown, of Haddington, then Professor
of Divinity to the Associate Synod. After attending the prelections of that
eminent divine, and honourably undergoing the usual course of preliminary trials,
he was licensed to preach early in the year 1776, when he had just completed
the twentieth year of his age,
Before he had been many months a probationer, he received a unanimous
call to become the minister of a new congregation at Cumnock, in Ayrshire,
and was ordained there in the following April, being then only twenty-one years
of age. In the spring of 1780 he married Miss Maxwell, of Bogtown, with
whom he had been intimate from his childhood, and in whom he enjoyed an
affectionate and valuable partner till the end of his life. They had several
children, all of whom died before reaching the years of maturity, except one
daughter. About the same time, he was called to be the pastor of Well
Street congregation, in London ; but the Associate Synod, agreeably to his
desire, continued him in Cumnock. After labouring there with fidelity and
success for the space of nine years, he was translated to Rose Street Church,
Edinburgh, in the month of June 1786.' He received a call some years after
to become the minister of a congregation in Manchester ; but the Associate
Synod, to which he was subject, considering that his sphere of usefulness was
equally extensive in Edinburgh, would not consent to his removal from it. As
an evidence of his unaspiring disposition, notwithstanding his popularity, it may
be mentioned, to his honour, that though the venerable Professor Beattie, in the
College of Aberdeen, voluntarily undertook to procure for him the degree of
Doctor in Divinity from that University, he modestly declined its acceptance,
because none of his brethren in the Secession Church had, at that period, been
dignified with the same honorary title. The degree was conferred upon him
by the University of Pennsylvania in 181 4 ; and previous to that time, a similar
honour had been awarded to some of his brethren by different Universities.
.
Previous to this he stood candidate, in opposition to Dr. Peddie, for the church in Bristo
Street. The latter was successful ; but, so large and influential were the minority, that a division
was the conseqnence; upon which the church in Rose Street was built for his reception. In
Cumnock he was succeeded liy the Rev. David Wilson; on whose death the Rev. Pabert Brown
was ordained to the charge.