great company every Sabbath-day.  I dare not leave 3000 or 4000, for 300 people.  Had this been offered me before, I would have seen it a direct intimation from God, and would heartily have embraced it.  How I should have delighted to feed so precious a little flock,—­to watch over every family,—­to know every heart,—­’to allure to brighter worlds and lead the way!’ But God has not so ordered it.  He has set me down among the noisy mechanics and political weavers of this godless town.  He will make the money sufficient.  He that paid his taxes from a fish’s mouth, will supply all my need.”  He had already expressed the hope, “Perhaps the Lord will make his wilderness of chimney-tops to be green and beautiful as the garden of the Lord, a field which the Lord hath blessed!”

His health was delicate; and the harassing care and endless fatigue incident to his position, in a town like Dundee, seemed unsuitable to his spirit.  This belief led to another attempt to remove him to a country sphere.  In the summer of this same year (1837) he was strongly urged to preach as a candidate for the vacant parish of St. Martin’s, near Perth, and assured of the appointment if he would only come forward.  But he declined again:  “My Master has placed me here with his own hand; and I never will, directly or indirectly, seek to be removed.”

There were circumstances in this latter case that made the call on him appear urgent in several points of view.  In coming to a resolution, he mentions one interesting element in the decision, in a letter to me, dated August 8th.  “I was much troubled about being asked to go to a neighboring parish at present vacant, and made it a matter of prayer; and I mention it now because of the wonderful answer to prayer which I think I received from God.  I prayed that in order to settle my own mind completely about staying, He would awaken some of my people.  I agreed that that should be a sign He would wish me to stay.  The next morning I think, or at least the second morning, there came to me two young persons I had never seen before, in great distress.  What brought this to my mind was, that they came to me yesterday, and their distress is greatly increased.  Indeed I never saw any people in such anguish about their soul.  I cannot but regard this as a real answer to prayer.  I have also several other persons in deep distress, and I feel that I am quite helpless in comforting them.  I would fain be like Noah, who put out his hand and took in the weary dove; but God makes me stand by and feel that I am a child.  Will God never cast the scenes of our labor near each other?  We are in his hand; let Him do as seemeth Him good.  Pray for me, for my people, for my own soul, that I be not a cast away.”