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the church of Larbert, which had gone to decay, was within his 

 hniits, he repaired and occupied it during tlie latter part of his hfe. 

 He died in August, 1631, aged 77, surrounded by his children, and 

 was buried there. His contemporaries describe him as " tall and 

 dignified, a venerable and heroic man ; his countenance majestic, 

 and his appearance in the pulpit grave, and expressive of much au- 

 thority. His manner of delivery was slow and engaging. In public 

 prayer he was short and sententious," but so emphatic his language, 

 so ardent his expressions, that he appeared to his audience inspired, 

 and " every sentence was a bolt shot up to heaven." Their contempo- 

 raries seem at a loss for words to express the manner of these old 

 ministers. One of them describes Michael Bruce as " a thundering, 

 broken-hearted, and most affecting preacher." And Andrew Mel- 

 vilPs description of Knox in his latter days is worth transcribing : 

 " In the opening of the text he was moderate, the space of half an 

 hour : but when he entered into application, he made me so to grew 

 (thrill^ and tremble, that I could not hold a pen to write. He 

 was very weak. I saw him go hulie and fear (slowly and 

 warily^ with a furring of Marticks (Martens) about his neck, 

 a staff in the an hand, and gud, godlie, Richard Ballenden, his 

 servant, holding up the other oxter (armpit) from the abbey to the 

 parish church (in St. Andrew's) ; and he and another servant lifted 

 him into the pulpit, where he behovit to lean, at his first entry ; but 

 ere he had done with his sermon, he was so active and vigorous, 

 that he was like to ding the pulpit in blads (beat it in pieces) and 

 flie out of it." 



Several of Bruce's public papers and speeches are preserved in 

 Calderwood's history. Five of his sermons, on the sacrament, 

 preached in 1589, were printed in 1590, dedicated to the king. 

 Another volume contains eleven sermons, published in 1591, dedi- 



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