SKETCH OF DR. CHALMERS. BY AN AMERICAN.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 141, 6 October 1847, Page 3

SKETCH OF DR. CHALMERS. BY AN AMERICAN.

In late rambles in Scotland, one of my principal objects was to see Scotland's brightest ornament, and of whioh, to her honour be it said, she is now more proud than of her Robertsons, or Humes, or Scotts. In seeking him at Edinburgh, I found it was with him a season of recreation, and that he had gone to the lake?;. I feared that even in following, I might lose him, as travellers have no abiding city. But a kind Providence favoured me, and in a very gratifying manner, permitting me not only to see, but to hear him preach. While at Glasgow, on a Saturday, it was announced that Dr. Chalmers was to preach the next day, in a grove about five miles from the city, to an audience oi the Free Church, who as yet were without any place of worship. With a friend, 1 started off with a buoyant heart, soon after breakfast, and found that some hun-, dreds, from Glasgow, were walking out for the same gratification. We came to a beautiful grove, in a valley whose sides were covered with the gathering people while a temporary pulpit was erected by a gentle brook flowing through the oentre. I felt myself at once back in the days of the old Covenanters, when SCotia's sons assembled in the mountains and valleys to worship the God of their fathers, while Claverhouse and his dra goons, in hot pursuit, would break upon them in dire destruction. As the hour of service drew nigh, a general rustling was heard, and turning round, I saw two venerable pastors coming down from the heights, through a narrow defile, to lead \n our devotions, and speak the words of eternal life. These were Dr. Faterson, of Glasgow, and* Dr. Chalmers. As they passed me, I gazed on the 'latter with intense interest. This, said 1, is the man who, thirty years ago, poured such a flood of light into* my mind by his astronomical sermons ;— this the man who, from that period) has been filling up for me and the Christian world, delightfully and profitably, the fountains of thought, and aiding us and cheering us in America in our works and labours of love. His personal appearauce was what I anticipated, very noble, though he is somewhat bent with age. He ■eated himself, by the rude desk, while Dr. Paterson ascended and officiated through the morning, giving us an.excellent sermon on the love of Christ. Here 1 had an opportunity of hearing David's Psalms in the old Scotch version, sung by Scotia's pious sons and daughters, as in times past, among htr hills and valleys ; and now, as then, struggling for freedom. The music fell delightfully upon my ear, from its many associations ; though as music it was deficient in the absence of bass. I gladly remained through the' intermission, that I might have the privilege of hearing the Doctor, who was topreach in the afternoon. He ascended the desk, as one used to the'preacher's armour, and bearing himself meekly in his Master's service. The Scotch version was read with a strong brogue, which gave it to my ear a pleasant impress. In prayer, he was simple, solemn, earnest, more intellectual than most preachers of the day, and manifestly much concerned for the conversion of sinners and the purity and prosperity of the Free Church of Scotland., Hia ifritton nas from

Isaiah xxvii 4 s—" Fury ii not in me 5 who would act the toriars and thorns against me in battle ? 1 would go through them. I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall makepeace with me." It was one of his own able, argumentative discourses., which he read closely ; though once or twice he turned from his manuscript, making an eloquent and strong exhortatory appeal to the impenitent around him. I anxiously looked to see whether he was, what we should term in America, an evangelical and revival preacher, and was fully satisfied he was ; offering to all a free salvation, and pressing upon sinners the duty of an immediate acceptance of Christ and his way of mercy. In an application to delaying sinners, he waa peculiarly solemn and impressive. You may delay, said he, the work of repentance, and think the future far off— but it will come s your day of sickness far off— but it will come ; your parting with the world far off— but it will come; your farewell to friends far off— but it will comet your adieu to physicians far off— but it will come ; your last call from heaven far off— but it will come ; your last invitation from the Saviour far off— but it will come ; your last unavailing effort to repent far off— but it will come ; the death struggle, the shroud, the funeral iar off— but it will come j the day of judgment, the day of reckoning far off— but it will come j the sentence, " Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire !" far off— but it will come ;— each time, as he uttered the solemn truth, throwing himself forward with an energy indescribable towards his hearers, and then retreating to his first position; all naturally and easy, but with • fulness of heart and force of manner which must have made the sinner feel that do what he would and delay as he would " judgment lingereth not and damnation slumbereth not." The whole service of the afternoon Was deeply interesting to me $ and I shall ever consider it a rare privilege to have had the opportunity of hearing this distinguished servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and taking him by the hand as I did after the service, and ' exchanging a £ew words with him as we are passing on. our way to glory. He said he had been much gratified by the visits of Dr. Beecher, Dr. Cox, and other brethren from America; and spoke with deep feeling, of the precious union which was now forming among ministers and Christians, in the Evangelical alliance. His work Will soon be done ; but he will leave behind him a Church which seems destined to do great things for Scotland.— New York Evangelist,