Page:Biographical sketch of the life and labours of that eminent minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Rev. James Hall D. D., of the United Secession Church, Broughton-Place meeting-house, Edinburgh.pdf/13

 correct statement of prominent facts, his ingenious exposure of the steps, which immersed him in such a situation. and his willingness to make every sacrifice calculated to repair any injury which his falure had occasioned, proved perfectly satisfactory to all concerned, and enabled him to retain his respectability unimpaired, not only among his own people, and his brethren in the church but also among impartial public characters of every description. Indeed, it is now understood, that proposals, both of a civil and sacred nature, were made to him, which, had he been inclined to accede to them, would have placed him in cireumstances far more eligible than he had previously enjoyed; but his piety, principles, and ideas of consistency, were too strong for allowing any worldly considerations to influence his conduct.

He continued to discharge his public duties pretty regularly, and with great acceptability, till about a year and three quarters before his death, when he was again seriously seized by his former complaint, which confined him nearly three months; after which he occasionally reappeared in the pulpit, and was heard by his people with strong sensations of joy. Indeed, his discourses then as as well as during the whole preceding eoure of his ministry, were so salutary and seasonable, so replete with the richest marrow of the Gospel, and so strikingly adapted to the condition of his auditory, that scarcely any substitute that appeared in his room was nearly so acceptable: for, notwithstanding the duration and nature of his malady, there was nothing in his public appearances that seemed to indicate either the existence of disease, or the imbecility of age-no whine, drawl, inaudibility or want of attention to the usual requisites, by which he had been accustomed to produce a pleasing and prefitable effect. His last sermon was preached from Matthew xxii. 11, 12— "And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a