nerally read; fince of what it proposes to establish, it contains the most fatisfying views that can be fuggested by learning, acutenefs, and good sense, and is admitted by the best judges to be a performance as useful and inftructive as any we have on that important fubject.

• The Commentary on the Apoftolical Epiftles' is now held in peculiar eftimation; and it may be doubted, whether the scope of the facred authors of these writings was ever, in any former age of Christianity, fo fully, clearly, and happily stated, as has been done by Dr. MACKNIGHT, in the general Views and Illuftrations which he has prefixed to the several Chapters of the Epiftles. In this able, judicious and learned Work, the Author's method of explaining the Scriptures is every where employed with the greatest success. His object was to discover the meaning of the infpired writers in difficult paffages, from a comprehenfive view of all the circumstances to which they allude, without regard to interpretations of mere human authority. Hence, although on principle attached to the established standards of the Church of Scotland, he did not conceive it as any advantage to the fyftem which he maintained, to urge in fupport of its peculiar doctrines, every paffage which zeal without knowledge may have employed for that purpose, Nothing, in fact, tends more to injure the cause of truth and religion, than an injudicious appeal to Scripture; or the attempt to establish opinions by the fanction of fcriptural words or paffages, quoted fingly, without regard to what precedes or follows them, and thus invested with a meaning, more than probably, entirely different from what was intended by the facred writers. Of this mistaken application, Dr. MACKNight has fhewn various inftances; remarking, that when a doctrine

doctrine is fufficiently established by any paffage in which it is expressly or undoubtedly declared, we only weaken it by any appeal to other paffages, of which the appli cation to that doctrine may be dubious, or at best equivocal.-Accordingly, it must be allowed, that in this method of eliciting the true meaning of Scripture, by a due refpect to parallel paffages, and the defign of the whole context, the expofitions and views which, with much fagacity of critical investigation, our Author has given of Paul's Epiftles, are extremely natural, acute,

and fenfible.

The Life of the Apostle Paul, which concludes the fixth volume of The Tranflation and Commentary," is an excellent compendium of the Apoftolical History; and may be confidered as the Author's view and illustration of the Acts of the Apoftles-the only part of the New Teftament writings (except the Revelation of St. John) to which the labours of Dr. MACKNIGHT, as a Commentator, were not directed. In all his writings, his style, though unambitious of elegance or ornament, is perfpicuous, and appropriate to the fubject,

DR. MACKNIGHT enjoyed the friendship and efteem of many eminent Characters among his cotemporaries of the fame profeffion. In the number of these were DR. BLAIR and Dr. ROBERTSÓN; to whofe attachment he owed much on different occafions--If the portrait which has been given in this account, is a faithful resemblance, the name of him whom it represents may now be confidered as not unworthy to be affociated, in future times, with those of the men in whofe fociety, during his life

time, he had often the happiness of paffing his hours, and whose works will live as the glory of Scottish literature, while civilization and refinement exist,

Dr. ERSKINE and Dr. FINDLAY had been the companions of his early youth; and although in his opinions on fome points of Church policy, he differed from these venerable perfons, fo universally esteemed for piety and profound theological learning, their mutual regard continued unaltered through life.-From Lord HAILES he received many valuable hints, relative to the early state of Christianity, of which he availed himself in his laft Work. To that learned and truly estimable Character, he was alfo under peculiar obligations of another kind, through the friendfhip of the Kilkerran family, with which Lord HAILES was connected by marriage. The character and learning of Dr. MACKNIGHT had long pointed him out as worthy of being promoted to a dif tinguished station in the Church. And it was on this ground, that by the immediate influence of JOHN DAL RYMPLE Efq. brother of Lord HAILES, and Provost of Edinburgh at that time, he obtained his election as a Minister of the City.

The proofs of refpect which he experienced from many of his younger Brethren in the Church, were highly gratifying to Dr. MACKNIGHT. Among his friends of this description, there were two for whom he entertained a peculiar esteem; and they will forgive the mention of their names on the prefent occafion, because the public tribute of regard which they have each had an opportunity of paying to his memory, in the General Affembly of the Church of Scotland, was fo honourable to him, that it ought not to pafs unrecorded. Principal HILL, with that impreffive and dignified eloquence which has long been

celebrated

celebrated as having a powerful influence on the deci fions of the Affembly, characterized him as- A vene rable Father, who ranked among the most eminent Dis vines that the Church of Scotland has produced; who often spoke in this Houfe with great ability, and profound knowledge of the fubject on which he delivered his opinion; who was a Master in our Ifrael, concerning all points of ecclefiaftical law; and by whofe theological labours, conducted during a long life with unre mitting affiduity, and directed to the most valuable ob jects, all of us now daily profit." To Dr. FINLAYSON, of whofe firmnefs, fagacity, and accurate knowledge, he early appreciated the future value to the Church, Dr. MACKNIGHT was ftrongly attached by a certain congeniality of mind; and he often had great pleasure in dif cuffing various fubjects of his attention, with a friend fo remarkable for acutenefs, judgment, and ftrength of intellect. It accorded with the fentiments of all his brethren, when Dr. FINLAYSON, officially reporting to the Affembly, the death of Dr. MACKNIGHT, as joint Collector of the Fund already mentioned, faid that "his deep learning, found judgment, and great refpectability of character, had rendered him one of the brightest ornaments of our Church,"

SOON after the time of his being ordained, Dr. MAC KNIGHT married ELIZABETH M'CORMICK, eldest daughter of the worthy and refpectable SAMUEL M'CORMICK Efq General Examiner of the Excife in Scotland-a Lady whofe humane and charitable character endeared her to the people in every parish where her

husband

husband has officiated as Paftor; and whofe tender feel ings of fympathy for diftrefs, unwearied activity of benevolence, and conftant anxiety to promote the happiness of all whom her kind offices can reach, are still known, and will long be remembered with approbation, in the circle where Providence has bleffed her with opportuni ties of doing good. By her Dr. MACKNIGHT had four Sons. The eldest, a very promising child, died at the of feven. Another reached the age of thirty-three, after having fuffered much from a lingering distemper, which at laft proved fatal to him. The lofs of this very amiable young man, was the chief distress which Dr. MACKNIGHT experienced in the course of his long and ufeful life. Of his family now remaining, one is engaged in a department of the Profeffion of the Law, and the other is a Clergyman of the Church of Scotland.

age

THIS plain and curfory narrative, which must now be brought to a clofe, is another proof of what has frequently been remarked, that the history of men whose lives have been spent in the acquifitions of learning, are generally barren of those incidents which excite an interest in the details of biography.-Continually occupied with the duties of his office, with his ftudies, and his writings, Dr. MACKNIGHT feldom mingled in what may be called the bustle of the world, and had no fhare in the political transactions of the day. For engaging in thefe, indeed, as already hinted, he was little qualified, either by the natural bent of his mind, or by his usual habits of life. But he has left behind him a reputation

fuperior