evidence afforded, that, in early childhood, he was the subject of
gracious motions of the Spirit. At two years of age, he was observed to
be aiming at secret prayer; and as his childhood advanced, he evinced
love to the ways of God, by reading and pondering the Scriptures,
delight in secret prayer, and by reverential regard to the authority of
his parents. Like Luther, and other eminent servants of God, Renwick was
trained for his life-work in the school of _temptation_; he experienced
painful mental conflicts, and the assaults of the tempter, at a very
early period. It is recorded that, at six years of age, he was conscious
of distressing doubts, in relation to the Divine existence and
perfections. These exercised and agitated his mind for a period of two
years. In answer to prayer, and by meditation on the power and goodness
of God, as seen in creation, he overcame the temptation, and attained to
internal composure and tranquillity. At a time of life considerably
subsequent, when he had reached mature youth, and had acquired extensive
acquaintance with Scriptural truth, a like temptation again assailed
him. He himself relates that he fell into deeper perplexity and distress
about these fundamental truths. Like the excellent Robert Bruce of the
First Reformation, he was strongly tempted to atheism. So powerful at
one time was the assault, that, being in the fields and looking to the
distant mountains, he exclaimed, "Were all these devouring furnaces of
burning brimstone, he would be content to go through them, if he could
thereby be assured of the existence of God." There was at length made
for him a way of escape from this severe temptation, and not only did he
attain to a full and joyful persuasion of God's existence, but to the
assurance of his personal interest in God as his covenant portion.

James Renwick was endowed with a vigorous reflective mind, and from his
childhood he was devoted to reading and study. Amidst considerable
difficulties, he commenced and prosecuted with ardour studies for the