away in these things. He began to have sweet familiarity
with God, and to live in near communion with him, before others began
seriously to lay to heart their lost and undone state and condition by
nature, &c. so that before he arrived at the 13th or 14th year of his
age, he had even attained to such experience in the way of God, that the
most judicious and exercised Christians in the place confessed they were
much edified, strengthened and comforted by him, nay that he provoked
them to diligence in the duties of religion, being abundantly sensible
that they were much out-run by such a youth.

Before he was fourteen years of age, he entered upon the study of
philosophy in the university of Glasgow, wherein he made a very
considerable progress, by which means he came to be taken notice of in
the college by the professors and students, and at the same time he
advanced remarkably in religion also. The abstruse depths of philosophy,
which are the torture of a slow genius and a weak capacity, he dived
into without any pain or trouble, so that by his ready apprehension of
things, he was able to do more in one hour than others could do in many
days by hard study and close application; and yet he was ever humble,
and never exalted with self-conceit, the common foible of young men.

As soon as his course of philosophy was finished, he commenced master of
arts with great applause. He began the study of divinity with a view to
serve God in the holy ministry, at which time there happened to be a
vacancy in the college of Glasgow, by the resignation of Mr. James
Dalrymple[78] of Stair, who had some time been his master. And though
Mr. Binning was but lately his scholar, yet he was determined, after
much intreaty, to stand as a candidate for that post.

According to the usual laudable custom, the masters of the college
emitted a program, and sent it to all the universities of the kingdom,
inviting such as had a mind for a profession of philosophy, to sift
themselves before them, and offer themselves to compete for that
preferment, giving assurance that without partiality the place should be
conferred upon him who should be found _dignior et doctior_.

The ministers of the city of Glasgow, considering how much it was the
interest of the church that well-qualified persons be put into the
profession of philosophy, &c. and knowing that Mr. Binning was
eminently pious, and of a bright genius, as well as solid judgment, let
upon him to