MARK, X. 23.—“ And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the PSALM iv. 6, 7.-" There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that Luke, xvi. 31.——" If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead."...........315 1 CORINTHIANS, i. 18.-" The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of ROMANS, xiv. 17.—“ The kingdom of God is not meat and drink ; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."........471 BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN JOHNSTON. Ir rarely happens that there is any thing in the incidents of a Scottish clergyman's life to furnish materials for a posthumous Memoir that is likely to awaken interest in the public mind; for, with some exceptions, the even tenor of his way, in the paths of clerical duty, and in the unobtrusive retirement of domestic society, presents but few of those vicissitudes and achievements which afford the most attractive materials of biography. Nor would the subject of the following notices perhaps have formed an exception from the common destiny of his brethren, if it had not been for the circumstances attendant on his separation from the communion of a body of Dissenters, after a connexion of many years, and his union to the Established Church of Scotland along with his flock,—and the melancholy fact of his sudden illness and death, within a few weeks after that reunion, while he was engaged in the public ministrations of his sacred office. These circumstances, it is presumed, and the connexion which they have with a branch of Scottish Ecclesiastical History, may be regarded as furnishing to liberal minds a sufficient apology for prefixing a brief nar A rative of Mr Johnston's life to a volume of the pulpit discourses which he had addressed to an affectionate congregation during a period of twenty-five years. There was nothing in Mr Johnston's original condition or progress in life which requires any elaborate detail of circumstances, except in so far as the incidents alluded to render it fitting to give an outline for the purpose of connecting these in their natural order ;-and a very brief outline, therefore, shall be given. Mr Johnston was the second son of John Johnston, a respectable citizen of Edinburgh, who for many years carried on business as a corn-dealer, and was in such circumstances of life as enabled him to give his family an education suitable to their condition in society. John was born on the 4th February 1784, and received his classical education under the tuition of Mr Cumming, who long taught the Canongate Grammar School with success and reputation, and for whom Mr Johnston always cherished the greatest kindness. In the year 1800, Mr Johnston became a student in the literary classes of the University of Edinburgh; and by his assiduity and proficiency he obtained the friendship of Mr Dalzell, late professor of Greek, who never failed to notice merit, and never failed also, when opportunity offered, to promote the interests of those who thus won his favour. Mr Johnston was wont to speak of his kindness to him with the warmest gratitude,—and he was indebted to the Professor's friendship for a situation as tutor to Mr Gordon of Cluny, whose father had applied to Sir Henry Moncreiff to recommend a trustworthy person for that charge. In an interview which Mr Johnston had with the reverend Baronet, he had expressed diffidence as to his mathematical acquirements; but Sir Henry, with his characteristic manner, said he had every reliance on Mr Dalzell's recommendation, and he was sure that Mr Johnston, having that feeling of diffidence, would, by assiduity, soon overcome his own scruples; and such was the fact, for the young tutor, cheered by this kindly confidence, pursued that branch of study unweariedly, until he obviated his doubts of his own fitness for the task assigned him. He afterwards, through the same channel, was appointed tutor to Mr Miller of Dalnair,-which connexion, at a subsequent period, led to a proposal that he should go abroad with his pupil,—and very handsome terms were offered to him, which would have yielded a moderate competence for life. But ere that occurred he had virtually come under engagements with the Congregation of Roxburgh Place Chapel, which precluded him from acceding to them. We must now, however, take a retrospect of some events which took place at a period prior to that which we have thus anticipated. Mr Johnston entered a student in the Divinity Hall and Church History classes, under the late Doctors Hunter and Meiklejohn, for whom he always expressed the greatest respect. He studied theology during the sessions 1803-4 and 1806-7 inclusive. On 12th July 1807, he was licensed by the Relief Presbytery, of which communion his father was a member, under the ministry of the celebrated preacher Mr Struthers in College Street Chapel, for whom, in common with the public of Edinburgh, Mr Johnston had a high admiration. On the death of that distinguished clergyman, and the appointment of his successor, a split in the congregation took place, when the most of those who were favourable to Mr Johnston as the successor of Mr Struthers, attached themselves to the third Relief Congregation, Carrubber's Close, Edinburgh, from whom Mr Johnston had received an invitation to become their pastor, and in which congregation he was ordained minister on the 14th of July 1808, and in the following year (1809) Roxburgh Place Chapel was erected. Previously to this being effected, Mr Johnston had received two other calls, -one from the Relief Congregation in Wooler,-and another from Cupar-Angus. It may not be foreign to our subject to mention, that |