N reading the proceedings of the famous Wcstmmster Asscmbly, there is one of the scribes (or clerks as we would call tliem), Adoniram Byficld, to whom our eye turns from time to time, amid all the discussions. His services are much in request, and he has evidently great sagacity and skill in his department of work. Such another clerk was Thomas Pitcairn, in the Convocation and in the early days of our Free Church General Assembly.
He was born at Edinburgh, 6th February 1800. His father, Mr Alexander Pitcairn, was a merchant in Leith and Edinburgh, and was well-known as an elder in Lady Glcnorchy's Chapel, where the venerable Dr Jones ministered as pastor for more than fifty years. It was while under the ministrations of Dr Jones that Mr Pitcairn was led to the truth ; and often in after days did he relate incidents connected with the preaching and labours of that man of God, who so long and so faithfully witnessed for evangelical truth in Edinburgh, in the Moderate era that preceded the times of Dr Andrew Thomson.
' After finishing the usual literary curriculum at College, he gave ' himself for a time to business, with considerable prospects of success in i that department opening up to him. But as the work of grace in his soul deepened, his thoughts turned to the ministry, and he abandoned ' without regret all hopes of worldly advancement. Having passed
through the Edinburgh Divinity Hall he was licensed by the Presbytery to
preach in 1828. While still a probationer, he assisted successively Dr Stcwart
of Erskinc, and Dr William Thomson of Perth; and thereafter was ordained assistant
and sncccsssor to Dr Grierson of Cockpcn.
Cockpen is in the Presbytery of Dalkeith—its name chiefly known by the old ballad
song. Here Mr Pitcairn found work to do for his Master, among a population partly
rural and partly connected with the collieries of the neighbourhood. IJis preaching
was solid and scriptural; he handled the truths of the Atonement and divine
grace with deep earnestness and power from the pulpit, and in his visitings
enforced what he preached. IJis consistent life and godly sincerity gave weight
to all he taught; while his pleasant, kindly manner, ensured him access to the
people, and won their affection as well as respect Nor was his labour in vain.
The writer of this notice was one day, in Glasgow, visiting at the house of
an intelligent ship-carpenter, whose wife manifested much interest in the conversation.
He at length asked her if she had long known the Saviour as her Saviour. She
replied, "Many years ago—more than thirty —I was brought to Christ on a
Communion Sabbath, when I was in the parish of Cockpen. Mr Pitcairn preached
on 'The Rock that is higher than I,' and that day my heart was opened to receive
Christ." And to ihis hour often does she speak with grateful delight of
that sermon, and of Mr Pitcairn.
An incident like this gives a glimpse of the blessing that attends on the work
of a true pastor. And Mr Pitcairn was such, during the twenty-two years he laboured
there, animated by zeal for his Master's glory, and by the desire to win souls.
But his former years of business-life were not without use to him. A man little
knows what he may be preparing for by what he passes through in early days.
Divine wisdom has a special view to the future in the secular training of one
who is to be a vessel to carry the name of Christ. Mr Pitcairn's experience
in business fitted him to be specially useful in after years,, and was soon
recognised by his
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