Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 07.djvu/24

 :: 1816). Various works of Boston, Hervey, and others were, 'through his instrumentality, chiefly given to the public' (List in Memoir, p. 168).
 * 1) 'Gospel Truth accurately stated and illustrated' (Edin. 1817; enlarged ed. Glasgow, 1831. This is a work on the 'Marrow controversy').
 * 2) 'A brief Account of a Tour in the Highlands of Perthshire,' with a paper entitled 'A Loud Cry from the Highlands' (Edin. 1818).
 * 3) 'Means of doing Good proposed and exemplified in several Letters to a Friend' (Edin. 1820).
 * 4) 'Memoirs of private Christians' (Glasgow, 1821?)
 * 5) 'Christian Experience, or the spiritual exercise of eminent Christians in different ages and places state in their own words' (Edin. 1826).
 * 6) 'Descriptive List of Religious Books in the English Language, suited for general use' (Edin. 1827).
 * 7) 'Evangelical Beauties of the late Rev. Hugh Binning, with account of his Life' (Edin. 1828).
 * 8) 'Evangelical Beauties of Archbishop Leighton' (Berwick, 1828).
 * 9) 'Notes, Devotional and Explanatory, on the Translations and Paraphrases in verse of several passages in Scripture' (Glasgow and Edin. 1831).
 * 10) 'Memoir of Rev. Thomas Bradbury' (Berwick, 1831).
 * 11) 'Memorials of the Nonconformist Ministers of the seventeenth century' (Edin. 1832).



BROWN, JOHN, D.D. (1778–1848), of Langton, theological writer, was born at Glasgow, licensed by the presbytery of Glasgow 8 June 1803, ordained minister of Gartmore 1805, translated to Langton, Berwickshire, 1810, and joined the Free church 1843. He received the degree of D.D. from the university of Glasgow in November 1815. He died 25 June 1848. He was one of the early friends and promoters of evangelical views in the church of Scotland, and a contributor to the 'Christian Instructor,' under Dr. Andrew Thomson, besides works of a slighter kind, he was author of two books which attained considerable fame, viz. 'Vindication of Presbyterian Church Government, in reply to the Independents,' Edinburgh, 1805, usually considered the standard treatise on its subject; and 'The Exclusive Claims of Puseyite Episcopalians to the Christian Ministry indefensible,' Edinburgh 1842.



BROWN, JOHN, D.D. (1784–1858), of Edinburgh, divine, was the eldest son of John Brown of Whitburn [see, 1754-1832], where he was born on 12 July 1784. His mother, who was his father*s first wife, was Isabella Cranston, a native of Kelso. He received his early education at Whitburn, and then, with a view to the ministry, entered Edinburgh University, where he studied from March 1797 to April 1800. It is still common for Scottish students to maintain themselves during their 'course;' then it was almost universal. Brown, having received his father's blessing along with a guinea, set off for Elie in Fife, where he kept a school for three years. During the summer vacation he attended at Selkirk, under Dr. Lawson, the theological hall of the burgher church (August 1800 to September 1804). At this he was present for from one to two months each year. On 12 Feb. 1805 he was licensed to preach, and nearly a year after (6 Feb. 1806) was ordained to the charge of the burgher congregation at Biggar in Lanarkshire. Brown was diligent both as preacher and pastor, and the congregation prospered under his charge. In 1815 he published his first work, 'Strictures on Mr. Yates's Vindication of Unitarianism' (Glasgow, 1815. The Rev. James Yates was a Glasgow unitarian divine, then engaged in a controversy with Dr. Wardlaw). Next year he was active in starting a periodical, 'The Christian Repository and Religious Register,' which served as the organ of his church. He edited this till five years later it was merged in the 'Christian Monitor,' which he also conducted till 1826. In 1817, in the 'Plans and Publications of Robert Owen of New Lanark,' he attacked the schemes of that thinker. Owen invited him to New Lanark, which is near Biggar. Here they had a conference which proved residtless. Brown was now much occupied with schemes for evangelising the Highlands and other districts in Scotland where spiritual destitution prevailed. He himself preached and lectured in various places. His hearers approvingly said 'that they know almost every word, for that minister does not preach grammar.' This seemingly dubious compliment only meant that his manner of speaking was direct and simple. In 1820 the burgher and anti-burgher synods were united. Whilst favouring this union. Brown, with a few friends, attempted to get the severity of certain portions of the Westminster standards relaxed. This attempt was at the time unsuccessful, but