Scotland/Scots > Life of John Knox ; and, The life of Alexander Henderson

44 LIFE OF ALEXANDER HENDERSON.
blage of endowments which have rarely met in one man.
He possessed talents which fitted him for judging and
giving advice about the political affairs of a nation, or
even for taking an active share in the management of
them, had he not devoted himself to the immediate
service of the church, and the study of ecclesiastical
business. He was not more distinguished by the abili¬
ties which he displayed in his public conduct, than by
the virtues which adorned his private character. Grave,
yet affable and polite ; firm and independent, yet modest
and condescending, he commanded the respect, and con¬
ciliated the affection of all who were acquainted with
him; and the more intimately his friends knew him,
they loved him the more. The power of religion he
deeply felt, and tasted the comforts of the gospel. Its
spirit, equally removed from the coldness of the mere
rationalist, and the irregular fervours of the enthusiast,
breathed in all his words and actions. The love of
liberty was in him a pure and enlightened flame; he
loved his native country, but his patriotism was no
narrow illiberal passion ; it opened to the welfare of
neighbouring nations, and of mankind in general.
Educated in Episcopalian sentiments, and having the
fairest prospects of advancement in a hierarchy fast ris¬
ing in greatness, after he had set out with an ardent
mind in the career of ambition, he sacrificed his hopes
to the convictions of his conscience, and joined himself
to a small body of men, who, though honourable in the
sight of God, were despised and borne down by those
who were in power. As his adoption of the original
principles of the Church of Scotland was not hasty, nor
the effect of personal disgust, but of deliberate examina¬
tion and the fullest conviction, he persevered in the
maintenance of them without deviation, amidst great
temptations. Though he had received a liberal educa¬
tion in the first university of the kingdom, and had at¬
tained to an eminent station in it, he cheerfully devoted
his time and talents to the care of a people in an oh-