yet arrived at equal degrees of spiritual attainment, to examine the nature of the obstruction. Seeing, "The fame Lord over all is rich unto "all that call upon him," we must, probably, seek in ourselves for the cause of the difference which we observe; and should we be persuaded to make proof of his riches, goodness, and mercy, by calling upon him, in an humble sense of our misery and want,-a want which no other riches can supply-we shall find it no disgrace to our character, to be found" fol"lowers of them who through faith and pa"tience inherit the promises." The following account of ROBERT BARCLAY, is comprised under two general heads. The first contains a survey of his origin, education, progress in religion, and the chief events of his life. The second mentions his writings, the time and motives of their publication; and gives a brief description of their contents. SHORT ACCOUNT, &c. PART I. His origin-education-progress in religion-and the chief events of his life. ROBERT BARCLAY was born at Gordonstoun* in the shire of Murray, the 23d of December (then the tenth month) 1648. William Penn has mentioned Edinburgh as the place of his birth; but this, according to the account preserved in his family, is erroneous. His lineal ancestors are traced back, by unquestionable documents, to Theobald de Memoirs of the life of Col. D. Barclay of Ury, and of his eldest son R. Barclay of Ury, p. 31. + Genealogical Account of the Barclays of Ury, &c. A 2 Berkeley, who lived in the reign of David I. king of Scotland. This king came to the throne in 1124, and was consequently contemporary with Henry I. of England, son of the Norman conqueror. Alexander de Berkeley, the fourth in succession from Theobald, having obtained by marriage, in 1351, the lands of Mathers, the family afterwards became designated by the ap pellation of De Berkeley of Mathers; until his great grandson, called also Alexander, changed the name to the present mode of spelling, Barclay. Such a change seems to imply but little acquaintance with books and records; this Alexander was reputed to be a scholar; and to him are ascribed some verses said to be written by a laird of Mathers, as advice to his son. The verses, whoever may have been the author, are worth preserving, both for their piety and good sense, and, supposing them to be his, as a specimen of Scottish poetry in the fifteenth century. yet Giff thou desire thy house lang stand, And thy successors bruik thy land, If this be really the production of the first Barclay, it is probable that the spelling of some of the words has been modernised. The eighth in descent from Alexander Barclay, was David Barclay; who, being in straitened circumstances through expensive living, sold his paternal estate of Mathers, after it had remained 300 years in the family, and also a more ancient inheritance which had been held 500 years. The designation of Barclay of Mathers was consequently lost; and in 1648, on the purchase of Ury by David, son of the last Barclay of Mathers, and father to Robert, the family assumed that of Barclay of Ury, which the spirit of feudal times, still surviving in Scotland, is disposed to retain. This description of pedigree may seem im pertinent in religious biography. It must be allowed that, unconnected with virtue in the descendant, pedigree, when laid in the balance, "is altogether lighter than vanity."* It serves, *Psalm Ixii. 9. |