1775. ON PUBLIC WORSHIP. 361 freedom from many evils, and some measure of faith in the glorious things that await me when time shall be no more. The dangers I have now to fear are spiritual pride, high-mindedness, self-seeking, selfrighteousness, impatience, sloth, carelessness, omission of known duties, and carnal security. Gracious Lord, deliver me from these, and every other sin and snare thou seest me in danger of,-undertake for me,-preserve me now in this day of wealth, lest I be full, wax fat, and kick against thee. Let thy grace and power be manifested in keeping my soul near to thyself, in a humble dependance on thee for all things. Sensible of my own nothingness and emptiness, may I come every moment to receive from thy fulness, wisdom, righteousness, and strength. Grant this, for thy holy name's sake. Amen! CHAPTER XIV. Lady Glenorchy returns to Edinburgh-Some circumstances with respect to her chapel there cause her much uneasiness-Extracts from Diary -Letter from Lady Glenorchy to the Presbytery of Edinburgh concerning Mr Grove-Answer from the Presbytery to her LadyshipMr Grove determines to return to England-Lady Glenorchy stifl further distressed with the circumstances of the chapel-Resolves to leave Scotland-Her friends' remonstrances against this resolution, particularly Lady Henrietta Hope-Lady Glenorchy determines to invite a minister to her chapel to whom the Presbytery could have no objections-Extracts from Diary, from January 14. to April 20. 1776 -Lady Glenorchy makes choice of Mr Balfour as the minister of ber chapel-Correspondence of Lady Glenorchy with the Presbytery of Edinburgh on the subject-Difference of opinion in the Presbytery on the measure-The matter brought by complaint before the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale-Lady Glenorchy goes to Taymouth-Extracts from Diary, from July 11. to September 2. 1776. LADY GLENORCHY returned to Edinburgh in October, where circumstances soon occurred which gave her much and long vexation. Some of her religious friends had scruples with respect to their continuing members of the established church, and they separated from it, and became zealous and censorious sectarians of different denominations. These occurrences affected her very much. Mr Grove had preached in her chapel three months at the close of the last year, and after going back to England, he returned in October, bringing his family with him, and preached for as long a period at the end of this present year. He was very generally acceptable to the congregation, and desirous to settle amongst them; nor was Lady Glenorchy averse to it. 1775. THE CHAPEL IN EDINBURGH. 363 There were some, however, who were not satisfied with Mr Grove's sentiments with respect to church order, and they expressed their dissatisfaction in a way which made Lady Glenorchy very uneasy. However, to put an end to this, she applied by letter to the Presbytery of Edinburgh, informing them of her wishes to gratify the congregation of her chapel, by appointing Mr Grove to be their minister, and respectfully requesting their countenance therein; to which she received an answer, stating the terms on which they were disposed to acquiesce in Mr Grove's settlement. Of these circumstances the reader will be further informed by an extract from her Diary, and copies of these letters, Edinburgh, Sunday, October 22.—I came yesterday to this place; found my soul refreshed in conversing with some dear Christian friends. To-day the word of God, and the whole services of the church, have been comfortable. To him be the glory! December 20.-On Wednesday the 14th of November I got a cold, which brought on a long confinement and bad state of health: I was at the same time much afflicted in my soul; had no comfort from the Scriptures or prayer. On Sunday the 17th I begged the Lord to shew me what my real state was before him; my trouble increased; I began to murmur at my situation. The enemy for a season was permitted to plead the cause of his votaries, and drew a comparison between them and the church to the disadvantage of the latter: thus my mind was drawn aside into awful and dangerous depths. Upon this I ventured to pray that God would manifest himself and his work of redemption to my soul. In bitterness of spirit I arose from my knees, took up the Bible, and cried to the Lord to give me faith in his word, and an answer of peace from it. On reading, the snare by which I was held gave way, and my soul escaped as a bird. From meditating on the Scriptures, peace was restored to my soul, my doubts and distresses vanished away, and my relish for the word of God and access to the throne of grace have been restored. Glory be to God! The letter to the Presbytery of Edinburgh which has been mentioned, is in the following terms: To the Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, December 27. 1775. "Rev. Sir, I acquainted your reverend Presbytery, in a letter sent to them in March 1774, that the chapel which I had built, for the purposes mentioned in that letter, would soon be ready for the reception of a congregation; that I intended to have it supplied with a minister of approved character and abilities; and was persuaded it would be ageeeable to the Presbytery, that, in the mean time, I should ask occasional supply from such ministers and probationers as I was acquainted with. "The Presbytery having been pleased to signify their approbation of my design, several ministers and probationers have cheerfully given their assistance; and I have no doubt they will continue it, which in future will only be necessary at particular times, as the chapel is now statedly supplied by the Rev. Thomas Grove, a minister of established character and abilities, who for several years has been pastor of a Protestant dissenting congregation in England, and as such gave 1775. OF THE PRESBYTERY OF EDINBURGH. 365 the security required by law in that part of the kingdom for his loyalty to Government, and his adherence to those essential doctrines of the Reformation in which the established Confessions of both churches are happily agreed. He is well known to several ministers of this city and suburbs, with whom he has joined in ministerial communion; and to those who attend at the chapel, having preached to them during the space of three months last year, and as many this year; to whom his ministrations are so acceptable that they have expressed their earnest desire of his continuance among them as their pastor, which it is my intention to comply with, that, besides the preaching of the word, they may enjoy the comfort and benefit of the other ordinances of religion, which are dispensed to their brethren of the same communion in their parish churches. I beg you will do me the favour to communicate this letter to the Reverend Presbytery at their first meeting, with my respectful compliments, which will oblige, Rev. Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, "W. GLENORCHY." To this letter Lady Glenorchy received the subjoined reply: To the Right Honourable Lady Glenorchy. "Madam,-Your Ladyship's letter was laid before us; and although we continue to approve of your pious intentions in establishing the new congregation within our bounds, we cannot give countenance to any person's being admitted minister thereof, until we have satisfying evidence of his having been regularly licensed and ordained, of his loyalty to Government, and of his conformity to our standards. We have the honour to |