HIS RELIGIOUS STUDIES. 221 



out of sight ; he never wore it on his sleeve. But I never 

 heard even the most intolerant express any doubt as to his 

 piety." 



Throughout life, John regularly engaged in religious 

 exercises before retiring to rest, sometimes with others, but 

 generally alone, acccording to the good old Scotch habit, 

 which is calculated to cherish higher life. 



His study of religion and theology was as thorough and 

 intelligent as of the other subjects he prosecuted, so that he 

 could give, above most men, " a reason for the faith that was 

 in him." His religious books included " Matthew Henry's 

 Bible," bound in full calf; " Matthew Henry on Prayer ;" 

 " Brown's Dictionary of the Bible ; " " Stackhouse's History 

 of the Bible," in-two handsome volumes ; " Cassell's Biblical 

 Educator ; " and " The Trees and Plants of Scripture," 

 thus applying his science to the interpretation of the sacred 

 book. For the history of his native land and church, and 

 their gallant struggles for liberty and religion, he possessed 

 " Scots Worthies," by John Howe, a fine large copy ; " The 

 Cloud of Witnesses," and the cognate work, " Foxe's Book of 

 Martyrs," once found m every cottage in the land ; the 

 " History of Scotland," in two large volumes ; and the " Ten 

 Years' Conflict," which gives the story of the religious 

 contest culminating in 1843. 



As was his custom in all things, he read and digested 

 these books so thoroughly that their ideas and facts 

 became all his own, and were fully grasped. He could 

 thus speak of the actors in the dramas, their deeds and 

 words, with the realism of everyday life and the known 

 familiarity of dear friends. Melanchthon, for instance, whom 

 he used to name " Meelaseethian," was one of his heroes, 



