1807.] 
this arrangement, he was never idle, even 
his forenoon walks were employed in com- 
mitting to memory his lectures or sermons 
_for the pulpit. In these compositions, he 
liscovered his extensive knowledge and ac- 
curate taste in writing: but especially he 
discovered a superior degree of knowledge 
of the sacred Scriptures. His lectures 
upon the whole of the New Testament, as 
well as his rational practical discourses, 
were listened to with attention and pleasyre 
by the more judicious part at least of his 
audience. He did not possess those popular 
talents which are fitted to command the 
applause of the ignorant multitude: and when 
a suspicion of heretical opinions was raised, 
and industriously spread, by envy or fa- 
naticism, his popularity decreased with many, 
but the more wise and well informed part of 
his congregation were not offended by such 
groundless clamour, and their esteem for 
their worthy pastor was so much the more 
increased, No man ever possessed more in- 
Segrity of heart than Dr. M‘Gill; and it was 
severely tried by the explanation and apology 
forced from him April 1790, by the Synod 
of Glasgow and Ayr, in order to remove the 
suspicions, which were entertained hy-many 
of heresy in the Practical Essay above mea- 
tioned. _The circumstance of an amiable 
daughter then lying on her deatn bed made no 
impression upon the unfeeling hearts of his 
prosecutors. For the sake or peace, he ytelded 
to tbe earnest solicitations of friends. and 
enemies who were equally tired of the 
business,and urged him to give the explanation 
and to m@ke the apology required. But 
posterity will find difficulty in believing, that 
at the close of the 18th century, such illi- 
berality and intolerance existed in the Church 
ef ScotJand, Though Dr. M Gill lived a 
studious and retired life, he was nut averse to 
the pleasures of suciety and_friendship. He 
not only lived on an intimate footing, with 
his worthy colleague Dr. Dalrymple, and 
ethers of his brethren in difterent parts, but 
also formed acquaintance with many respec- 
table families of the cgunty, by whom he was 
received with kindness and treated with 
respect. There was an unafiected plainness 
and simplicity in his mannets and conversation, 
which: smperficial observers were apt to as- 
eribe to ignorance of the world: but im fact 
few -men were. capable of making more ju- 
dicious observations on men and mavners than 
he did,and he welt knew howtointroduce them: 
in their proper place.- His sermons contained 
shrewd, and sometimes satirical, remarks on 
the-manners and corruptions of the times 
Many of his hearers widl regret that these, as 
well as his lectures,were all writtenina kind 
efshort hand which cannot be easil ydecyphér- 
ed. Every week, he wrote his lecture or sermon 
for the ensuing sabbath; these he purtly 
committed to memory, and partly delivered 
from his notes, which he always placed in the 
\. Montury Mac. Ne. ii. 
Ireland. £09 
bible before him. He had some degree of 
hesitation in his public speaking, which 
strangers wére apt to dsciibe to his being at a 
loss tor what he was tosay: but even this 
defect kebt up attention ; and their patience 
was fever disappointed. The justness and 
closeness of his reasoning convinced the un- 
derstanding, and Sometimes interested the 
feelings of his hearers 
himself, there was always something orizinal 
in his matter; or inthe particular view which 
he took of cominon subjects. It was with 
him a fixed principle, on all the controverted 
points of revealed religion to adhere strictly” 
to the language of scripture: hence he never 
used the -celebrated terms or phrases which 
with many have become the infallible stan-’ 
dards of orthodoxy. Nor did he waste time’ 
in his sermons in combating the opinioas of 
Calvinists, Arminians, Arians, Sucinians, or 
any other ancient or new sect, but declared 
the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, after a 
_careful and candid examination of the New 
Testament. ‘This circumstance, so much to 
his honour, laid the toundation of all the 
suspicions of heresy which were éncertained 
against him. Put as his views were formed 
upon mature deliberation, he possessed that 
firmness of mind which would not yield to 
popular clamour, and brought upon him the 
reproach of his enemies, that he was obstinate 
in his errors. On examining his papers, 
after his death, there were found only two 
sermons, containing thoughts on Death, which 
_wefe written in ordinary characters, and m- 
tended by him tobe published. ‘That in-’ 
tention will be fulfilled by his friends. 
“IRELAND. 
Married. At Black Rock, near Dublin, 
the seat of Sir John Lees, bart. William 
Lees, esq. of the Northern district of the Post 
Office, to Miss Helden, daughter and co 
heitess of the late Cornelius H. esq. 
At Ahern Church, near Cork, Captain G, 
W. White, of the 85th regiment, to Miss 
I. A. Wood, daughter of the late Captain W, 
of the 34th regiment of foot. . 
At Colonel Baker’s, Fort William, near 
Cork, Joseph Leycester, esq. to Miss Wrixon, 
daughter of the late Nicholas W. ésq. of 
Dublin. . 
At Ballymena, John Shaw M‘Culloch, 
esq. of the 47th regiment, to Miss Ann 
Harrison, youngest daughter of the late Hugh 
H. esq. of Churchfield, county Antrim. 
At Limerick, Edward Galway, esq of Lota, 
in the county of Cork, to Mrs. Haanah 
Harte, relict of the late William Harte, of 
Kuockfentry, county Limerick, esq. 
At Dublin, James Grant, esq. late captain 
in the 85th regiment, to Miss D.. Flood, 
second daughter of Captain F. of the 59nd 
regiment, and niece to che late Right Hon, 
Henry F. ee 
Died. ] At his seat, Castle- Martyr, 
county of Cork, Richard Boyle, Eari of 
Be Shannon, 
e 
As he thought for , 
Y 
