THE CHRISTIAN AMBASSADOR A QUARTERLY REVIEW, AND JOURNAL OF THEOLOGICAL LITERATURE. EDITED BY THE REV. C. C. M'KECHNIE. VOL. XI. London: PUBLISHED BY G. LAMB, CONFERENCE OFFICES, ALL BOOKSELLERS; AND MAY BE HAD OF THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST PREACHERS. PRINTED BY F. H. HURD, OFFICE OF THE "PRIMITIVE METHODIST," 122, MILE END ROAD, E. THE CHRISTIAN AMBASSADOR MR. ART. I.-DR. CHALMERS. R. S. CLEMENS (Mark Twain), who is sometimes as wise and suggestive, as he is witty and humourous, writes as follows:-"I desire to say to the societies in London, and other chief cities of Great Britain, under whose auspices I have partly promised to lecture, that I am called home by a cable telegram. I shall spend with my family the greatest part of next year here, and may be able to lecture a month during the autumn upon such scientific topics as I know least about, and may consequently feel least trammelled in dilating upon." The italicising is our own; firstly, because the sarcasm is of extensive applicability; and, secondly, because the "cap" does not fit ourselves on the present occasion. Books are, no doubt, a great and legitimate help to a man, as well as is that sort of omniscient fancy hinted at by Mr. Clemens, which is sufficient for all things; but, at the same time, eyes, ears, and one's own actual mental experience, is a greater help than either the books or the fancy; and, on the knowledge obtained by means of these we shall almost exclusively rely in writing this article. Fact and sentiment, both, we shall draw de nos propres fonds. Mr. Dickens, in his Notes on Italy, has described Rome as if it had been a city without a history; in like manner shall we, on the strength of our personal knowledge, describe the man who is the subject of the following observations; regarding him from our own stand-point alone, irrespective of the opinions of others, except as they may serve to illustrate or confirm those which we ourselves have to offer. Having seen and heard, therefore shall we speak; and what we know is that whereof we shall affirm. We feel ourselves happy in being able to state that we had a pretty good personal knowledge of Dr. Chalmers, having been favoured with the privilege of attending a course of his viva VOL. XI.-NEW SERIES. B |