ness and infirmity of body, as not being able to
read much at a time, or to undergo the fatigue of continual study, in so
much that his knowledge seemed rather to have been born with him, than
to have been acquired by hard and laborious study.

Though he was bookish, and much intent upon the fulfilling his ministry,
yet he turned his thoughts to marriage, and did espouse a virtuous and
excellent person Mrs. Barbara Simpson, daughter to Mr. James Simpson a
minister in Ireland. Upon the day he was to be married, he went
accompanied with his friend (and some others, among whom were several
worthy ministers) unto an adjacent country congregation, upon the day of
their weekly sermon. The minister of the parish delayed sermon till they
would come, hoping to put the work upon one of the ministers whom he
expected to be there, but all declining it, he tried next to prevail on
the bridegroom, with whom he succeeded, though the invitation was not
expected. It was no difficult task to him to preach upon a short
warning; he stepped aside a little to pre-meditate and implore his
Master's presence and assistance (for he was ever afraid to be alone in
this work), and entered the pulpit immediately, and preached upon 1 Pet.
i. 15. _But as he that hath called you is holy_, &c. At which time he
was so remarkably helped, that all acknowledged that God was with him of
a truth, &c.

When the unhappy differences betwixt the resolutioners and protesters
fell out, among whom Mr. Binning was of the last denomination, this
distinction proved to be of fatal consequence. He saw some of the evils
of it in his own time, and being of a catholic and healing spirit, with
a view to the cementing of differences, he wrote an excellent treatise
of Christian love, which contains very strong and pathetic passages most
apposite to this subject. He was no fomenter of factions, but studious
of the public tranquillity. He was a man of moderate principles and
temperate passions, never imposing or overbearing upon others but
willingly hearkened to advice, and always yielded to reason.

The prevailing of the English sectarians under Oliver Cromwel[79] to the
overthrow of the presbyterian interest in England, and the various
attempts which they made in Scotland on the constitution and discipline
of this church was one of the greatest difficulties, which the
ministers had then to struggle with. Upon this he hath many excellent
reflections in his sermons, particular