Entered in Stationers Hall.

Reverend GEORGE LY ON,. Late Minister of the Gospel at Strathmigle.

MR GEORGE LYON was fon to Mr James Lyon, minifter of the Gospel at Blairgowrie, defcended of a younger branch of the noble family of Strathmore. His mother's ; name was Allison Gillespie, daughter of the late Mr George Gillespie, his immediate predeceffor. Mr Gillespie, whose character was univerfally respected, was defcended of very worthy and honourable ancestors. He was. grandson to the gentleman of the fame name, who was one of the members from Scotland, of the famous Affembly of Divines which met at Westminster.

The Author of the following Sermons was born the 17th day of February 1729. He was educated at the grammar-school of Dundee, and studied at the university of St Andrews.

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He was licensed to preach in the year 1752; and, foon after, he came to Strathmiglo to vifit his grandfather, who being then in an infirm and declining state of health, kept him as his affiftant. While he officiated in that capacity, the congregation discovered a very strong attachment to him and the proper fteps having been taken, with the consent and cordial approbation of Mr. Gillefpie, he was ordained as his affiftant and fucceffor in May 1754, to the great fatisfaction of the whole parish. Mr Gillespie died about two years after, in the 56th year of his ministry.

In the year 1757, he married Sophia Marhall, youngest daughter of the reverend David Marshall, late minifter of the gofpel In Kirkaldy, who furvives him, and by whom he had feveral children. His eldest fon, James, a very promifing young man, died at St Andrews, where he was ftudying divinity, in the year 1782. In the year 1779, his fecond fon David went out in the Loyalift privateer of Greenock, which fhip, after fhe failed from Greenock, was never afterwards heard of;-it is believed fhe foundered

foundered at fea. daughters are still alive.

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He continued minifter of Strathmiglo till his death, which happened very unexpectedly on the 16th February 1793. He was in his ordinary state of health on the morning of the day on which he died. After family · worship, a duty which he regularly performed, he complained of a pain in his temples, and in a few minutes he appeared to be altogether infenfible. Medical affistance was immediately procured, and every mean of

recovery was attempted in vain. He died.

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about 7 o'clock in the evening, to the inexpreffible grief of his congregation, and much and fincerely regreted by all who were honoured with his acquaintance.. great outlines of his character were, fervent piety towards God, unaffected fimplicity of manners, and undeviating integri. ty of heart. The natural effects of thefe, . were great refpectability as a minister of the gofpel, the affection and esteem of his fami ly and friends, together with fteadiness and uniformity in his public condu&.. The mơdefty of his nature prevented him from dif

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playing

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playing the powers of his mind; but when his duty required it, he never failed to exert them. Hence, in every important action of his life, he enjoyed the peculiar felicity of making the principles of his conduct confpicuous and apparent; and the principles of his conduct he never needed to conceal.

He poffeffed that, uninterrupted equanimi-. ty of temper which made him bear injury: without resentment, and that amiable gentleness of difpofition which difpofed him on every occafion to think favourably, and to fpeak favourably of mankind. It pleased: God to bring his faith to the touchstone; and in the greatest trials of his life, he con fpicuously illuftrated the doctrines of meeknefs and refignation, which he constantly taught.

We cannot better conclude this fhort account of his life and character, than by fome extracts from fermons, preached by the Reverend Mr Martin of Monimail, from Job v. 26...foon after our Author's death,. and from Zech. i. 5. on the occafion of in-troducing his fon as his fucceffor.

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