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/3

 some great and faithful men, in consequence of the errors in doctrine, remissness in discipline, and infringement, by patronage of the liberty and rights of the Christian people, which were then, and are still tolerated by the general assembly of the Scotch Established Church. His father feued a site for the first secession church in Glasgow, and his mother, whose paternal property lay in the vicinity of Kirkintilloch, presented to the Seceders at that place, the ground on which their church is erected. And it appears worthy of notice, that no fewer than three churches were built for Dr. Hall, during the course of his ministry; one at Cumnock, and two in Edinburgh. He had three sisters and two brothers, four of whom were older than himself. When he was about five years of age, his father was removed to the better country, and the training of his mind devolved upon his mother,* whose instructions, prayers, and example, appear to have been eminently blessed to him, as well as to the rest of her family; for from his youth, he was well acquainted with the Scriptures, and exhibited a walk and conversation becoming a disciple of Christ.

At an early age he gave indications of a sprightly intellect, and distinguished himself at school as a very apt scholar. During his attending the grammar school of Glasgow, he one year gained the second prize, and in each of the three others, the first prize, in that eminent classical seminary. On leaving it, he entered the University of glasgow, where he studied for five sessions, and went through a complete course of literary and philosophical education, characterized by uncommon assiduity,