John Howie of Lochgoin

24 THE PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL REVIEW
monies. 16 It seems that Howie also intended to publish an
edition of Stevenson's History of the Church and State of
Scotland, and to complete it by a supplement; 17 but death
frustrated this project.
It is amazing how a man in Howie's position, with his
other daily duties to perform, and far from public libraries,
could find time to write and edit so much. By looking into
the Memoirs this wonder is increased, for there it is made
evident that a great part of his time was taken up every
day with private prayer and meditation, and family devo-
tions. Doubtless, when engaged with the necessary duties
of his moorland farm, his mind was frequently filled with
his beloved literary work. At such times many a thought
would be crystalized; many of his happiest expressions
would assume their final form. In this way his daily open-
air avocations would rather help than hinder his more
enduring work.
Except on Sabbaths and fast days, he usually took a nap
after dinner in summer; in the early evening, in winter.
This custom tended to keep him awake in the mornings be-
fore it was time to rise. That his mind might be profitably
employed on these wakeful mornings, he had texts or truths
selected for meditation.
The Memoirs, and especially the portion written by him-
self, show that he was a truly God-fearing man, genuinely
sincere and conscientious, striving to walk in the narrow
way that leadeth to eternal life. His "predominants", as
he calls them, frequently got the better of him, or at least
he thought they did. One of these "predominants" was a
hasty temper ; and, when through provocation he gave way
to it, he bitterly bewailed his weakness. He often prayed
that he might be kept straight in the way, from falling into
anything in his practice that would dishonor God, be of-
fensive to God's people, bring a reproach on religion, or
discredit the cause he had done so much for in public. He
kept private and family fasts and thanksgivings, over and
"Thomson's Martyr Graves of Scotland, i., p. 146.