ss. His parents were careful to give their
son a liberal education; for which purpose he was early sent to school,
and, from his commencement to the study of letters, he discovered an
uncommon genius, and soon made such proficiency as rendered him
respected during his youth. He was much addicted to the harmless
diversions of that age, yet they did never abate his progress in his
studies, nor his detestation of any thing immoral or unbecoming the
character of a scholar. He was put to the university in the new town of
Aberdeen, where he made great proficiency, till at last he was admitted
master of arts, with the universal approbation of the regents of the
college.

About this time, a very remarkable incident fell out, which confirmed
Mr. Hog's aversion to drunkenness, and his belief of an over-ruling
providence: For, having accompanied a merchant of Aberdeen to a ship in
the mouth of the river Dee, who was going a voyage (being one of his
acquaintance), upon his return, with two burgesses who had gone the same
errand, through the importunity of one of them, they turned all aside to
take a bottle in an inn by the way. There he tarried till he thought
they had drunk sufficiently, and, finding they were not disposed to go
home, he laid down his share of the reckoning, and was going away, but
they, being averse to part with him, and resolute in their cups, laid
hold on him to stay, but he, being full six feet high, and
proportionably strong and vigorous, soon twisted himself out of their
gripes, and went off; and came home to his chamber, and went to bed at
his usual hour, but, though in good health, he could get no rest till
the clock struck one, when he fell asleep, and rested quietly till the
morning, when he arose. At which time coming forth to his class, one met
him weeping, and told him, That the two men he left yesternight, after
continuing a while at their cups, fell a-contending and then a-fighting,
in which the one killed the other. He asked, at what time? and being
told just at one, he adored that providence which had both seasonably
disposed him to leave them, and made him uneasy whilst the complication
of sin was thus committing.

And though Mr. Hog was adorned with these natural and acquired
accomplishments which constitute a truly amiable person, heightened with
the lustre of an unblameable life, yet, as he himself acknowledged, he
remained a stranger to the saving operations of the Spirit of God till
about